Latest English LCCC Lebanese & Lebanese Related News & Editorials published on July 25-26/2023
St. Anne mother of Virgin Mary’s Annual Remembrance on July 25
Saint of the day website
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St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, according to tradition derived from certain apocryphal writings. St. Anne is one of the patron saints of Brittany and Canada and of women in labour. As the grandparents of Jesus, Anne and her husband Joachim are also considered the patron saints of grandparents; their feast day is celebrated on July 26. Information concerning her life, which startlingly parallels the Old Testament story of the barren Hannah and her conception of the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 1), is found in the 2nd-century Protevangelium of James (“First Gospel of James”) and the 3rd-century Evangelium de nativitate Mariae (“Gospel of the Nativity of Mary”). According to these non-scriptural sources, Anne (Hebrew: Ḥannah) was born in Bethlehem in Judaea. She married Joachim, and they shared a wealthy and devout life at Nazareth. Grieved by her barrenness, Anne promised God that she would dedicate her firstborn child to the Lord’s service. The couple then received a vision of an angel, who announced that Anne would conceive and bear a most wondrous child, Mary. When the child was three years old, Joachim and Anne, in fulfillment of her divine promise, brought Mary to the Temple of Jerusalem, where they left her to be brought up. The Protevangelium account of the life of St. Anne became the foundation for establishing the liturgical feasts of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September and the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December , which is usually observed as a holy day of obligation. The dedication of Mary at the Temple became so important in church doctrine that by 1585 Pope Sixtus V included in the Western church calendar the liturgical feast of the Presentation of the Virgin Mary (November 21). Although this festival originated early in the East, probably at Jerusalem in 543, its first Western observance was recorded in England in the 11th century. Indeed, the Protevangelium long had great authority in Eastern churches, and portions of it were read during the various feasts of Mary by the Greeks, Syrians, and Copts.
In addition to the narrative of the Protevangelium, certain other traditions hold that Anne, widowed shortly after the presentation of Mary at the Temple, subsequently remarried (once or twice) and is the grandmother of one or more of the Apostles, including John and James (sons of Zebedee), Simon, Jude, and James the Less (son of Alphaeus) and also of James, “the Lord’s brother,”, depending on the source. Eastern literature on Anne, going back to the 4th century, does not follow the fantastic legends of medieval Western tradition. The mother of Mary is revered in Islam, though she is not named in the Qurʾān.
Anne’s cult was fervent in the Eastern church as early as the 4th century, and many churches, the first dating from the 6th century, were built in her honour. In the early 8th century, Pope Constantine probably introduced her devotion to Rome. Anne became extremely popular in the Middle Ages and influenced such theologians as Jean de Gerson, Konrad Wimpinar, and Johann Eck. In response to attacks on her cult by Protestant reformers, devotion to St. Anne was further promoted by post-Reformation popes. In art, depictions of the Holy Family with St. Anne were especially popular in Germany, where they first appeared in the 14th century and were widely represented in the 15th; in the 15th and 16th centuries they were also frequently depicted in Italy and Spain.

Le Drian arrives in Beirut for talks with Lebanese leaders
Naharnet /July 25, 2023
French special presidential envoy for Lebanon Jean-Yves Le Drian arrived Tuesday in Beirut on a several-day official visit. Le Drian is scheduled to meet with a number of political leaders to discuss the country’s presidential election crisis. He had first visited Lebanon in his capacity as special envoy in June. Le Drian met earlier this month with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, a day after representatives of France, Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Qatar and Egypt met in Doha to discuss the Lebanese file. In a statement issued after the Doha meeting, the five-nation group threatened “measures” against the Lebanese parties who are “blocking progress” in the stalled presidential election file, calling for a new president who “embodies integrity, unites the nation, puts the interests of the country first, prioritizes the well-being of its citizens, and forms a broad and inclusive coalition to implement essential economic reforms.”Meanwhile, sources told ad-Diyar newspaper, in remarks published Monday, that Le Drian's visit is aimed at searching for new options and will likely not break the presidential impasse. The sources expected a protracted deadlock until the five nations' next meeting in September. "Lebanese parties are betting on the Saudi-Iranian and the American-Iranian understandings. The Shiite Duo is hoping these agreements would be in favor of its candidate Marada leader Suleiman Franjieh, while other parties believe that these foreign understandings might boost the chances of Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun," the sources said.

Berri holds a meeting with Le Drian and French Ambassador to Lebanon Anne Grillo
LBCI/July 25, 2023
In a meeting held at the second presidency in Ain el-Tineh, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri meets with the French Presidential Envoy, Jean-Yves Le Drian, and the accompanying delegation in the presence of the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Anne Grillo. The meeting lasted more than forty-five minutes, after which Le Drian left without making a statement. Berri described the meeting with the French envoy as good and stated, "we can say that a hole in the wall of the presidential file has been opened."

Berri urges cabinet to appoint new BDL governor as crisis looms
Naharnet/July 25, 2023
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met tuesday with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati in Ain el-Tineh and discussed the looming leadership crisis at the central bank.Berri stressed during the talks "the need to hold a Cabinet session to appoint a new Central Bank governor." The Speaker reportedly refuses the extension of Central Bank chief Riad Salameh’s term, his reappointment to the post or tasking him with acting in caretaker capacity. Salameh’s four vice governors had warned that they might resign unless politicians swiftly name an incoming governor. They met last week with the parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee and presented Thursday to the MPs a preliminary comprehensive financial plan. On Monday the vice governors met with Mikati at the Grand Serail and presented their plan to him, asking the government to cover their work in a legal manner. The PM considered the plan to be compatible with the government's plan but "impossible to implement" within the deadlines that the vice governors had set. Lebanon since last year has been governed by a caretaker cabinet with limited powers and without a president, and naming a high official could take months of political horse-trading. The central bank governor is named by cabinet decree for a six-year mandate that can be renewed multiple times, based on the finance minister's recommendation. If the position is vacant, the law stipulates that the first vice-governor take over. The vice governors had warned in early July that they would resign, but later backed down from the idea, saying the threat was intended to "alarm the political class and the people". On Thursday, first vice governor Wassim Mansouri said that no result was reached during the vice governors' meeting with the Administration and Justice Committee. He said the vice governors are awaiting the MPs' feedback to their proposal and that they will act accordingly. In case the vice governors decided to resign, they would act in caretaker capacity until the appointment of a new governor, a step that Berri reportedly supports. After a ministerial session on Monday, caretaker Information Minister Ziad Makari said that Cabinet will not extend Salameh’s term and that Mikati will re-meet with the vice governors in the critical coming hours.

No successor named for Lebanon central bank chief: deputy PM
AFP/July 25, 2023
BEIRUT: Crisis-hit Lebanon — which has no president and is ruled by a caretaker government — will also have to go without a central bank chief from next week, says the country’s deputy premier.No successor has been named for the embattled bank governor, Riad Salameh, 73, who steps down after three decades at the helm at the end of July, Saade Chami told AFP. “We need to appoint a central bank governor, in consultation with all political parties,” Chami said, noting however that “conditions are not ready for a new governor to be appointed within a week.”“There is no other option but for the vice-governors to assume their responsibilities under these circumstances,” he said, adding that Salameh’s mandate will not be extended. Lebanon has been mired in a painful economic crisis since 2019 that has seen its currency lose around 98 percent of its value against the dollar and pushed most of the population into poverty. Salameh has been a central figure of the political elite that is widely blamed for the crisis. He has been the subject of judicial investigations at home and abroad into allegations including embezzlement, money laundering, fraud and illicit enrichment, charges he denies. Once hailed as the guardian of Lebanon’s financial stability, Salameh is now wanted by France and Germany in connection with alleged financial irregularities. Lebanon, however, does not extradite its citizens. Now his departure is set to create the latest high-level power vacuum that could plunge the country into further disarray. Earlier this month, the central bank’s four vice-governors said they planned to resign unless politicians swiftly name an incoming governor. Lebanon’s central bank governor is named by cabinet decree for a six-year mandate that can be renewed multiple times, based on the finance minister’s recommendation. If the position is vacant, the law stipulates that the first vice-governor take over. Prime Minister Najib Mikati is set to meet the vice-governors in the next couple of days to find a solution, Chami said. “They have some demands, they are asking for the government and parliament’s support to continue their work,” he said. A senior central bank official told AFP this month that the vice-governors did not want to take the blame for Lebanon’s economic collapse “while the political class continues to buy time.” Despite the severe meltdown, Lebanese leaders have failed to enact all the reforms required by international lenders to unlock billions of dollars needed to save the economy. Chami, who also heads Lebanon’s International Monetary Fund negotiation team, said the vice-governors have also called for Beirut to enact much-needed reforms. Last month, the IMF warned that Lebanon’s failure to implement reforms could have “irreversible” consequences and further jeopardize economic and social stability. Chami said about the reform demands that, “the more we delay, the harder finding a solution will be,” adding that “we have become experts in wasting time.” “We are facing a crisis that has been worsening for the past 30 years,” he said. “We really need bold decisions and courage from the decision-makers.”

The end of BDL governor's term: Lebanon's search for the next BDL governor
LBCI/July 25, 2023
Amidst mounting crises and an impending deadline, the fate of the Banque du Liban (BDL) governorship remains uncertain. As the term of BDL's Governor Riad Salameh concludes on July 31, deputies are grappling with the weight of responsibility. Voicing their concerns transparently, the governor's deputies confronted Prime Minister Najib Mikati, demanding guarantees to shield themselves from potential backlash and confrontation. LBCI has reported that Mikati is expected to convene with the deputies again on Wednesday to discuss the action plan and assurances they have sought. Mikati may also meet with the BDL Governor on Wednesday ahead of his anticipated television appearance on LBCI. However, governmental sources were not pleased with the leaks of the Prime Minister's meeting with the deputies on Monday, who believe that the matter requires delicate handling and confidentiality with legal assets to avoid turbulence. According to the sources, the State Council's consultation aims to understand the legal implications if the deputies were to resign and whether their resignation would be binding on the government. Nevertheless, the sources note that the First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Wassim Mansouri, well-versed in law and the constitution, has taken an oath alongside his colleagues and is well aware of his duties. In an effort to address the pressing issue of the BDL's governance, a meeting convened in Ain el-Tineh, bringing together Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Mikati. During the meeting, Berri stressed the need for a government session to appoint a new BDL Governor, while Mikati made no statements. No conclusive decisions have been currently made, and multiple scenarios are being considered. One such possibility is that the governor's deputies might present their resignations, which the government will likely reject. A government meeting is expected to take place before Friday to discuss BDL governance in its entirety and the post-Salameh era. According to LBCI's sources, potential appointees might be proposed during this session, including up to three names for the BDL Governor position. However, any appointment is unlikely as ministers closely aligned with the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) have been boycotting sessions, and Hezbollah is opposed to the appointment. The government may declare that it has fulfilled its duty, and the governor's deputies would continue in their current positions within the caretaker government, thus absolving themselves from any possible consequences.

Speaker Berri confirms Cabinet session on Thursday to appoint a new BDL Governor
LBCI/July 25, 2023
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri affirmed that a Cabinet session will be held next Thursday to appoint a new governor for the Banque du Liban (BDL). During an interview on "Alhurra" TV channel, Berri expressed his concern, stating that Lebanon is at risk if a President is not elected by the end of the year.
In the same context, he reiterated his support for the leader of the Marada Movement, Sleiman Frangieh, as a candidate for the presidency, considering that the Lebanese Forces and the Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) have hindered the work of the parliament, which "currently represents the only legitimate constitutional institution in the absence of a government." Berri also disclosed that the US mediator in the file of delimiting the southern maritime borders, Amos Hochstein, is scheduled to visit Lebanon at the end of August to monitor the commencement of drilling in the Qana field.

Mikati holds failed talks with Salameh deputies, two may quit Thursday
Naharnet /July 25, 2023
A meeting Monday between caretaker PM Najib Mikati and the Central Bank’s four vice governors was “not encouraging,” media report said on Tuesday. “The offer presented by Mikati to them was not tempting: he asked them not to tender their resignations in the next 48 hours while promising to find a way to cover expenditure from the foreign currency reserves, as they had requested in the plan presented to the Administration and Justice Committee,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported. “Mikati said that he would hold contacts with a number of political forces, especially with (Speaker Nabih) Berri, to explore the possibility that parliament re-look into their request for issuing a law that would cover expenditure from the reserves, stressing that the government would stand by them until the appointment of a new governor,” the daily added. “Credible sources” meanwhile told al-Joumhouria newspaper that “the resignation option is on the table but it is not final.”It is “rather conditional on granting First Vice Governor Wassim Mansouri the legal guarantees that enable him to continue the work of the governorship after the end of Salameh’s term,” the sources said. “This matter is in the hands of the political authority, which has to offer these guarantees,” the sources added. “Next Thursday will be a heated day during which things might reach the extent of the resignation of First Vice Governor Wassim Mansouri and Second Vice Governor Bashir Yakzan,” the sources added.

Preparations for the end of Riad Salameh's term: Cabinet session on Thursday
LBCI/July 25, 2023
The Presidency of the Council of Ministers announced on Tuesday the convening of a government session at the Grand Serail on Thursday, 27-07-2023, to discuss the latest developments in the financial and monetary situations, especially with the approaching end of the term of the Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon, Riad Salameh.

Al Shami to AFP: There is no alternative for the governor's deputies of the BDL but to assume the governor's responsibilities
LBCI/July 25, 2023
The caretaker Deputy Prime Minister, Saadeh Al Shami, emphasized that there is no alternative for the governor's deputies of the Banque du Liban (BDL) but to assume the governor's responsibilities, as his term is set to end at the end of July.
With Lebanon grappling with multiple crises, finding a suitable replacement has proven to be a challenging task. During an interview with the news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP), Al Shami pointed out that "we need to appoint a governor for the BDL in consultation with all political parties."However, he acknowledged the difficulty in doing so due to the current unfavorable conditions, as it seems unlikely to appoint a new governor within a week. He proposed an interim solution, stating, "in the meantime, we can continue discussing the matter, and the First Deputy Governor can assume responsibilities under the Monetary and Credit law." He clarified that the caretaker Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, urged the four governor's deputies during Monday's meeting to "stay in their positions, first and foremost, in accordance with the law, and secondly, because there is no other option but for them to take over under these circumstances." Al Shami highlighted that the deputies seek cover from the Lebanese government and the Parliament to continue their work but have not announced their resignation. He also mentioned that a meeting is scheduled to be held in the next two days in an attempt to find a solution to the crisis surrounding the BDL.

Report: BDL stops buying dollars as Salameh seeks to go to UAE
Naharnet/July 25, 2023
Outgoing Central Bank chief Riad Salameh and the political forces and money changers he cooperates with are seeking monetary and financial instability in the Lebanese market, a media report said on Tuesday. “The Central Bank on Friday stopped purchasing dollars from the market until further notice,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported. “Salameh is going home and is seeking to show that there will be chaos when he leaves,” the daily added. Reminding of reports that Salameh wants to live in the UAE after his retirement, al-Akhbar said he has sought to “pacify the UAE authorities, relying on Lebanese and Emirati businessmen.”“One of the most prominent Emirati investors in Lebanon has managed to recover a large part of his trapped deposit whose original value exceeded $100 million,” the daily added.

Geagea says fighting battle to win country back
Naharnet/July 25, 2023
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Tuesday that his party is fighting a battle, along with its allies, "to win back the country from its hijackers.""If the Axis of Defiance manages to take control of the presidency, this would lead to a continued deterioration of the economic and financial situations and would aggravate the suffering of the Lebanese," Geagea added. "We are fully aware that liberating the Lebanese decision and returning it to the official institutions is a long path, but we are determined to walk it without fatigue or hesitation," Geagea said.

Innovative drilling: Transoceans Barents rig heads to Lebanon's waters
LBCI/July 25, 2023
In preparation for the arrival of the drilling rig Transoceans Barents, operated by a consortium of TotalEnergies EP, Eni, and Qatar Energy, a temporary halt was made in Portugal to replace the crew and supplies. The rig is destined for Lebanese waters and is scheduled to reach its destination on August 14. Subsequently, exploration and gas drilling operations in Block 9 are expected to commence between the end of August and the beginning of September. To facilitate the rig's arrival, the Energy and Public Works Ministers, Walid Fayyad and Ali Hamieh visited the logistic base to stay in line with work at the Beirut Port. The visit also included the General Manager of Exploration and Production attendance at TotalEnergies EP. The platform, leased by TotalEnergies EP and located at Pier 3 of the Beirut Port, is anticipated to receive numerous vessels carrying essential equipment and materials required for the drilling operation. Officials from TotalEnergies EP expressed optimism about the prospects of exploration activities in Block 9. The Transoceans Barents rig is the sixth generation of advanced drilling rigs, capable of operating at a water depth of 3,048 meters and a total depth of 9,144 meters. Notably, the planned well to be drilled in the Qana field does not exceed a water depth of 1,650 meters and a total of 4,400 meters.

Lebanon's Hezbollah sees Israel on path of 'collapse'
Reuters/ July 25/2023
Netanyahu said on Monday he hopes his religious-nationalist coalition will reach an agreement with the opposition on the contested judicial reform plan by the end of November. The Iran-backed Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah said on Monday its arch-foe Israel was on a "path of collapse and fragmentation," referring to divisions in Israeli society over a contested reform of its judiciary. Israel's parliament on Monday ratified the first bill of an overhaul sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after last-gasp compromise efforts collapsed and failed to ease a constitutional crisis convulsing the country for months. "Today, in particular, is the worst day in the history of the entity, as some of its people say," Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said in a televised speech, referring to Israel. "This is what puts it on the path of collapse, fragmentation, and disappearance, God willing," he added. ("Today, in particular, is the worst day in the history of the entity, as some of its people say."-Hassan Nasrallah)
Hopefully reaching an agreement
Netanyahu said on Monday he hopes his religious-nationalist coalition will reach an agreement with the opposition on the contested judicial reform plan by the end of November. Shi'ite Hezbollah has fought numerous conflicts with Israel since being established by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982. The crisis in Israel has caused a deep divide in society and has seeped into the military, with protest leaders saying thousands of volunteer reservists would not report for duty if the government continues with the plans and former top brass warning that Israel's war-readiness could be at risk.

Electricity crisis compounds suffering of sweltering Lebanese
Arab News/July 25/2023
BEIRUT: Lebanon’s electricity rationing is compounding the suffering of the public amid the Mediterranean heatwave, with sweltering summer temperatures sweeping the country. On Tuesday, the judiciary’s work at the Palace of Justice in Beirut was disrupted after power generators ran out of fuel.
Interrogations and the few court sessions still operating during a judicial vacation were halted amid frustration over the unbearable heat and humidity. The brother of the central bank governor, Riad Salameh, and his assistant, Marianne Hoayek, were scheduled to appear before the first investigating judge in Beirut, Charbel Abu Samra, as part of the investigation and interrogation in corruption cases in which they are suspects, along with Salameh himself. But the power outage and intense heat inside the Palace of Justice led to the suspension of the investigation session. The difficult working conditions forced judges and employees to leave their offices. The crisis also affected Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, where air conditioning units stopped working for hours due to power disruptions. High temperatures in Lebanon’s mountains and hinterlands have led to a surge in tourism, with more than 1 million foreigners and expatriates spending their summer vacation in the country. Rumors spread online as meteorological experts warned that temperatures could reach up to 45 degrees Celsius from Sunday into next week, creating an unprecedented heatwave in Lebanon.
Michel Antoine Afram, president of the Agricultural Scientific Research Agency, warned citizens about the danger of wildfires.
“Continued winds contribute to the ignition of fires and their rapid spread,” he said, highlighting “Lebanon’s lack of preparedness to even face the smallest of fires.” Afram urged authorities to monitor what is happening “in Greece and other countries.”He also warned of the repercussions of “some citizens’ disregard for guidelines and underestimation of the effect of the heat on their health.”He demanded the government declare a state of emergency in Lebanon next week, starting Sunday, and the possibility of renewing it should the extreme heat persist. Afram urged citizens to avoid leaving their homes or workplaces between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., especially to visit swimming pools and beaches, and to wear sunglasses and hats, and increase fluid intake. He called on farmers to remain vigilant of their animals’ health and urged drivers to be mindful of engine and brake temperatures. Afram appealed to factory owners and generator operators to be cautious of fire hazards. Beirut Gov. Marwan Abboud issued a circular to firefighters, guards and municipal departments, requesting that “all units, personnel, and machinery be fully prepared for emergency cases to combat any fires that may break out.”
Private power generators are popular in Lebanon, with authorities fearing that some of the devices may overheat in the extreme weather. The hours of electricity supply through the government network do not exceed four hours per day at most, which means that many in the country rely on private generators for about 20 hours each day. Thousands of solar panels are installed on the rooftops of residential buildings, with the option gaining popularity among the public due to the high cost of private power generators. However, some solar panels have led to fires in buildings. Abboud appealed to the relevant institutions to “immediately inspect the locations of hazardous and flammable materials, especially in fuel stations, warehouses, storage facilities, and places where electricity generators and their fuel tanks are placed, and ensure that they comply with public safety conditions, especially regarding fire prevention tools and equipment and immediate intervention measures.” Electrician Ahmad Halabi told Arab News that an increase in temperatures and load on electricity wires can lead to insulation deterioration, causing fires. About four years ago, Electricite du Liban used to provide power for about 12 to 16 hours a day, with much of the public then also using private generators to cover the gap. The cost of subscribing to the generators was low due to the significant support that the government then provided for fuel prices. However, since 2019, the state’s ability to provide electricity through its network has crumbled amid the worsening financial and economic crisis in the country. Lebanon’s central bank gradually reduced its support for fuel starting in 2021. Water departments in the country have urged citizens to “rationalize water usage to essential daily needs.” A week ago, dozens of fires broke out in several parts of Lebanon, especially in forest areas. Firefighters put out 91 blazes. Two weeks ago, the heatwave that hit Lebanon caused fires to break out in Jbeil, Akkar, Dennieh, Bekaa and the south, with blazes engulfing olive trees and agricultural lands. The Meteorological Department said: “Temperatures will start to decrease as of Saturday, returning to their normal levels, and will not exceed 34 degrees Celsius in Beirut.” It added: “The feeling of heat is due to excessive humidity resulting from the high temperature of Mediterranean Sea water, which is currently at 29 degrees Celsius, and the hot and humid southwestern winds coming from North Africa, pushing the humidity toward the Lebanese coast.”

Lebanese Ex-FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: With Western Support, Hafez Assad Ended Aoun’s Mutiny
Beirut: Ghassan Charbel/Asharq Al-Awsat/25 July 2023
Lebanese former Foreign Minister Farez Boueiz recalled to Asharq Al-Awsat the hectic period towards the end of the 1975-90 Lebanese civil war over Elias Hrawi’s election as president and the ouster of Michel Aoun from the presidential palace and Syria’s role in both affairs.
Hrawi, like most Maronite politicians in Lebanon, dreamed of becoming president. Boueiz, Hrawi’s son-in-law, detailed to Asharq Al-Awsat the events that led up to his election. During the civil war, Syria was entrusted by the whole world, including the United States, Vatican and Europe, to tackle the situation in Lebanon, said Boueiz. They had all acknowledged their inability to tackle the file. No one was willing to become involved militarily, so Syria was brought in to manage the situation, he explained. Syria was still sore from the time when it was tasked in 1976 to rein in the Palestinian Liberation Organization, he went on to say. It chose Elias Sarkis to become president at the time and waged a real war in order to ensure his election. “I believe that several Syrian soldiers were killed by Palestinian fighters during the ensuing battles,” Boueiz said. Sarkis’ term was overshadowed by the rise of Bashir Gemayel in Lebanon and ended with Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. Gemayel was elected as his successor. Syria was also sore about this and didn’t want a repeat of that scenario, Boueiz added. “So, it sought a Maronite president from beyond the Mount Lebanon region so that he wouldn’t be influenced by Maronites in that region,” he remarked. Damascus believed that the Maronites there were opposed to Syria. Moreover, it sought a president who had no ties to the Lebanese Forces and would have preferred the election of a head of state who would confront it head-on if the need arose. Syria wanted a president who would not have yielded to the LF the way Sarkis did to Gemayel. Boueiz believed that Syria had considered the election of Mikhael al-Daher, Rene Mouawad, Hrawi and Jean Obeid.
President or minister?
Ahead of the presidential elections, then minister Hrawi approached Boueiz for advice on how to handle an interview with LBC television that was then affiliated with the LF. Boueiz told him that if he harbored presidential ambitions, then he should make the message clear during the interview and add that an understanding with Syria was necessary to resolve the Lebanese crisis, which Hrawi did. “I warned him that I would not be responsible for his security once he made such a declaration,” Boueiz recalled. “We were at war after all.” Hrawi, who had voted for Gemayel’s election as president and who had friends among the LF, believed that they would protect him from any harm. When he finished his interview and returned home, he encountered some LF members, who told him that they wouldn’t be able to protect him. They advised him to take his family away to their house in the city of Zahle. Hrawi had left his Zahle home eight years earlier, around the time Gemayel was elected president. Now, he was supposed to head to it without advance planning. His home had long since been occupied by local forces.
“It seemed that Syrian checkpoints had monitored his journey to Zahle. As soon as he arrived, he was greeted by [head of Syrian intelligence in Lebanon] Ghazi Kanaan. Hrawi was uncertain that he would be allowed into his house, but Kanaan delivered a presidential salute to him with a greeting: ‘Welcome, Mr. President,’” revealed Boueiz. “Hrawi replied: ‘What president? A president who doesn’t know where he will sleep the night?’ Kanaan responded: ‘Welcome to your house. If there is even an ashtray that is out of place, I will know what to do.’” Indeed, the Hrawis entered the house and found that everything appeared untouched.
It seemed that Kanaan was made aware of Hrawi’s journey to Zahle. He sent orders to the occupiers to clean the house immediately even as the Hrawis returned late at night. Moreover, he informed Hrawi that Syrian President Hafez al-Assad was waiting for him at the late hour. Kanaan and Hrawi headed to Syria, and he was informed by Assad that he had Damascus’ support in his bid for the presidency. Soon after his return to Lebanon, Hrawi telephoned Boueiz to inform him, without giving away too much information over line, that his visit to Damascus was “very positive”. Hrawi’s presidency was decided at that moment, but hit a setback after the emergence of a Saudi-Syrian settlement over the election of Mouawad as president. Mouawad enjoyed strong ties with Lebanese businessmen in Saudi Arabia, which had favored his election. The Kingdom believed that the next president must be entrusted with Lebanon’s reconstruction and garnering aid and Mouawad had the necessary connections to do that. So, he was elected president even though Assad had favored Hrawi. Mouawad’s tenure was short-lived. He was assassinated on November 22, 1989, days after his election. Hrawi was again the frontrunner in the race.
Election
Assad favored Hrawi’s election even though some powers in Syria were opposed to his choice, but in the end, he was elected president at the Park Hotel Chtaura. He then lived in a small modest apartment in a military barracks in Ablah in the eastern Bekaa region. The presidential palace at the time was controlled by army commander Michel Aoun, who was leading a mutiny. Boueiz recalled that Hrawi felt ineffectual and weak as president during his time at the apartment because he was disconnected from the capital, telephone lines were not operational, and it was a four-hour journey for officials to visit him. At one point, Hrawi threatened to quit, declaring: “I am not a puppet.” He grew even more defeated when he saw footage on television of throngs of Aoun supporters at the presidential palace. Deciding to assume control of the situation, Hrawi tasked Boueiz to visit Syria to find out what will happen in Lebanon. After much resistance, Boueiz, who had never been to Syria, relented. Effectively, he became Hrawi’s unofficial advisor. He assumed the role of responding to correspondence from the Pope and the French and American presidents. “Lebanon was without a state. Hrawi had no one to help him. The presidential guard were made up of Jamil al-Sayyed's relatives. (...) Due to the circumstances, I was forced to do everything, especially when it came to diplomacy and foreign communication,” Boueiz revealed.
Meeting Assad
Boueiz informed Hrawi that he would agree to becoming his envoy to Syria on condition that he communicate directly with Assad, not his officers or any other official. So, he was tasked in an official capacity to visit Assad. Boueiz also demanded that his visits be made public, refusing to head to Damascus in secret. Hrawi agreed and soon after, Boueiz was invited to visit Damascus to meet with Assad. Boueiz described the meeting as “pivotal”. He explained that the Syrian leader was expecting to meet a traditional Maronite politician, who are normally opposed to or fearful of Arabism. Boueiz surprised Assad by embracing Arabism and highlighting Christian figures who championed that way of thought. He also surprised him with his criticism of the United States, whom he described as opportunistic.
Effectively, Boueiz passed Assad’s test and their relationship was formed from that point. He later confided in him that Hrawi was on the verge of resigning if the situation with Aoun was not resolved.
“Assad informed me that it was important to avert a military operation,” Boueiz said. He then returned to Beirut for consultations with French Ambassador Rene Ala and the Vatican’s Ambassador Pablo Puente. “I met with them regularly and they would meet with Aoun for negotiations,” he added.
At the same time, Syria feared the emergence of Samir Geagea as the most powerful Christian figure after Aoun’s ouster. They feared that he would hold sway over the president the same way Gemayel did over Sarkis. So, Assad sought guarantees from Geagea over this issue. He wanted Geagea to approve of the Taif Accord, which would help end the war. Geagea had yet to declare his support because he was worried it would impact his support among Christians. Assad also wanted Geagea to recognize Hrawi’s authority as president, take a clear stance from the dismantling of militias and the deployment of the army throughout Lebanon. Boueiz recalled his shuttle diplomacy during that time between Paris, Washington and the Vatican. He also revealed how he would move by boat under cover of darkness from Beirut’s Saint Georges Bay to Jounieh Bay and from there to visit Geagea in Keserwan to avoid Aoun’s artillery fire. His visits to Geagea would stretch long into the night.
“Geagea would dispatch a boat to transport me from the Saint Georges area. This happened over a period of six or seven months, until the West finally informed Assad that it was time to put an end to Aoun’s munity, meaning it approved of Syria’s military operation,” Boueiz said.
Aoun's ouster Aoun rejected all proposals for him to abandon his mutiny, even from the US and France. France, said Boueiz, was invested in the issue because of Aoun’s ties with French intelligence. French Ambassador Ala tried to defend Aoun through all possible means and was genuinely concerned over his fate. Boueiz met with the envoy prior to the military operation. He told Asharq Al-Awsat that he criticized Ala for allowing his emotions to influence his actions. He also believed that he was not sincere in the negotiations to persuade Aoun to end his mutiny, rather, he actually encouraged him to stay at the presidential palace.“We began to discuss how Aoun would be removed safely from the palace and moved to the French embassy, where he would have immunity,” Boueiz said. He pledged that the army would escort him to a French vessel that would sail him to France. After much concern over his safety, Aoun managed to leave the palace swiftly and without incident and headed to embassy. “I was shocked to learn that he had arrived alone without his family,” Boueiz revealed. In the midst of the battle, “we had to find a way to bring his family to safety,” he went on to say.
Elie Hobeika, a senior LF official with connections to Syria and a debt to Aoun, who had saved his life during a past battle, agreed to transport the family from the palace to the house of the French ambassador.

Hezbollah Shackles Dialogue and Offers Insidious Concessions
Sam Menassa/Asharq Al Awsat/25 /2023
More than anything else, Hezbollah Secretary-General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s speech marking the anniversary of the July 2006 war was blunt and explicit. He told us that instead of equivocation, this moment demands clarity. The speech left no contentious questions unanswered and presented no ambiguous positions. Indeed, he discussed everything from the role of the resistance’s arsenal to the events of May 7, 2008, the July war, the border demarcation deal with Israel, the presidential elections, the accusations that the party seeks to force a constituent conference to amend the constitution and legitimize the resistance, federalism, and division.
The speech explained the overarching framework through which the party chooses its policies and positions, what it wants and tolerations, and its red lines. In doing so, he preempted the materialization of the agreements reached by the Quintet Committee, though the Quintet’s meeting ended with the reiteration of previously declared stances and did not give rise to any serious shift that could change the course of the Lebanese crisis.
The speech put the ball into his opponents’ court, as it doubled down on his demand for dialogue without preset conditions. Here, we find the flaw in the logic of the party’s assessment of this dialogue. In fact, Nasrallah announced, for the first time, that the question of the resistance’s weapons and role would not be put on the table. He rebuffed the idea of following the example of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq and integrating the party and its weapons into the army.
There are two sides to his justification of this position. On the one hand, it avoids implicating the state in the actions taken by the resistance, and on the other, it affords the resistance a greater degree of freedom and more room for maneuver. Essentially, he told us that Hezbollah would not engage in discussion about disarmament or a national defense strategy. The party insists on making decisions of peace and war alone, i.e., that a military-security organization remains outside the control of the state until the conflict with Israel ends.
Hezbollah thereby managed to shift the focus away from the unprecedented crisis of their being a state within a state that is stronger than the official state. Instead, the focus is now on other contentious issues, most of which are a result of this perverse state of affairs. Indeed, this aberration explains everything from the economic collapse, which is more a consequence of policies than a question of figures, to the crisis plaguing the political system and the obstruction of its process, such as the election of a president and the formation of a government.
Moreover, his insistence on a consensual democracy is nothing more than a cover for disregarding the Taif Agreement and turning our current problems into existential crises that triggers sectarian tensions and calls for federalism, division, and isolation. In order to provide reassurance to Christians and Sunnis, the dialogue he put forward is open to all these issues and others, and no demands for altering the political system or tampering with the Taif Agreement were made.
Two other remarkable features can be pointed to in the speech. First, it celebrated the fact that our borders with Israel have been secure for the past 17 years and the consequent growth, stability, and prosperity in the South. This achievement, according to Hezbollah, is owed to the deterrence it provides, which has prevented Israel from violating Lebanese sovereignty. Hezbollah argues the deal that demarcated the maritime borders with Israel provides a strong example to support its claim. As for the land borders, it limits the number of unresolved disputes with Israel and argues that they can be resolved, which it argues would stabilize things. The party’s arsenal deters Israel and protects our sovereignty, and after doing so, the party can focus more on internal affairs.
Second, Nasrallah is convinced that Israel is weak and on the brink of collapse. If he and those calling the shots in Iran genuinely believe this to be the case, they could fall into dangerous and destructive pitfalls. Israel is indeed faced with domestic challenges. If they are exacerbated, they could engender negative repercussions. However, this doesn’t mean that the balance of power in the near or medium term will shift in favor of Hezbollah, its allies, and its backers. Any intentional or accidental provocation or aggression would result in catastrophe, especially if the party’s policies are found on this assumption. Despite its entanglement in a web of domestic problems, which led Israel to prefer to limit its relation to the party’s provocations, the calculus would change in the event of a war. War would temporarily unite citizens, as did the recent military operation in Jenin, during which the opposition rushed to support the military.
Despite the entertainment events, vibrant nightlife, and return to normal life one sees on the surface in an array of regions, observers can see that the country is undergoing an updated, and worse, version of the tensions seen in 1974 and 1975, the eve of the civil war. This is especially true for odious sectarian tensions, infatuations with seclusion, and the intolerance of the other under the pretext of despair, all of which hinder solutions. The political climate today is perhaps even more ominous than it had been before the civil war when responsibility could be attributed to the Palestinian organizations and then the Syrian army; no foreign forces can be blamed for the conflict.
Given this situation and the uncompromising political framework set by the party, what lies ahead for the local, regional, and international actors concerned? On the local level, the opposition continues to refuse to engage in a dialogue with the party that overlooks the parallel economy it built, the closure of illegal crossings (and the other illicit activities it is accused of directly or indirectly supporting), solutions for the economic collapse, reconciliation with the Gulf state, and Hezbollah’s meddling in the affairs of regional states on orders from Tehran.
The opposition insists on getting an answer to these questions, and it will not hold talks so long as the party claims these are issues that concern resistance alone, keeping them beyond the scope of discussion, effectively telling its rivals “what’s ours is ours, and what’s yours is ours too.” Will the dialogue be limited to an effort to compel the opposition to support its criteria for the next president - one that Hezbollah trusts and persuades it to disregard its demand for a founding congress? His incalcitrant stance brings us back to square one. It suggests that, whoever is named president, the status quo will not change. Iran, Hezbollah, and the Axis of Resistance more
broadly insist on this matter in anticipation of the US presidential elections that will be held 16 months from now and the materialization of the Saudi-Iranian agreement.
As for the Quintet Committee, two major obstacles stand in its way. First, the party refuses to discuss its weapons, which is the main demand of the opposition or most of the opposition. Second, for various reasons, the ruling clique, as well as most of the political forces in the country, refuse to fully engage in reforms that cannot succeed without a comprehensive political solution. Given the opposition’s fragmentation, the most the Committee can achieve is the appointment of a president that reassures the party and is reluctantly accepted by the opposition.
Thus, things will not change until further notice. This outcome is the objective sought by other countries in the region and beyond, as they believe that these are the limits for a settlement in Lebanon. The crucial question is maintaining “stability” on the surface. They want to see tourists continue to flock to the country and give it a veneer of security and avoid a volcanic eruption that burns everyone.

Mere Wishes before It’s Too Late
Dr. Ali Awad Asiri/Former Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon/Asharq Al AwsatJuly /25 /2023
In my capacity, as ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and by virtue of my knowledge of the Lebanese peculiarity and the extensive discussions that I had with those who represent its symbols, including politicians and businessmen, I believe that the agreements reached during the Doha meeting - which were publicly disclosed to ensure transparency, are the best palliative remedy for the impasse that the country is experiencing. I say that it is analgesic on the basis that after reducing the level of pain resulting from stiffness and stubbornness, it is possible to move to something better.
As for why I see this, it is because the parties that met and deliberated on the case of the Lebanese patient practically represent the Arab and international dimension of the Lebanese specificity. It suffices to reflect on the positions of each of the five countries to confirm my saying, in my capacity as connoisseur of the depth of the Lebanese specificity. One might think that practically involving Iran in the talks that took place would have made the solution more attainable. However, Iran’s non-participation does not mean that those who held the discussions in Doha and not elsewhere did not look at the Qatari role in hosting and managing the meeting. However, it represents, in some aspects of the consultations and what was agreed to be announced publicly, the unspoken Iranian desire to see an objective and dignified end to the intractable Lebanese crisis.
In my opinion, the fact that part of the symbols of Lebanese peculiarity carefully read the outcome the five-party consultation concluded in Qatar is sufficient to make the temperature of stubbornness, which exceeds the weather temperatures these days, recede a little, then a lot.
Without this careful reading, one can say goodbye to this particularity. This is what I do not wish for a country that enjoys great attention from those who participated in the talks in Doha, just as the people of Lebanon deserve the blessing of stability.
The rotation of demands and the re-selection of names somehow dispels the atmosphere of stubbornness that is reflected in phrases that neither serve the country, nor build hopes or preserve a national and sectarian formula.
I conclude with a question: Is this logical in anything? To have a realistic safety umbrella called the Taif Accord, and five friendly and active Arab and international countries that are keen on Lebanon more than its politicians - those who were elected to perform the tasks stipulated in the constitution, and not to deal with these tasks with an irresponsible behavior?

Latest English LCCC Miscellaneous Reports And News published on July 25-26/2023
MECHRIC Strongly Condemns the Treatment of Cardinal Louis Sako by Iraqi Government
American Mideast Coalition for Democracy/July 25/2023
The Middle East Christian Committee (MECHRIC) condemns the treatment of Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, by the Iraqi government, whose President, Abdul Latif Rashid, revoked Cardinal Sako’s status as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church and the legal caretaker of its endowment on July 14th. Cardinal Sako accused Ryan Al-Kildani, leader of a Christian militia group known as the Babylon movement, of orchestrating an “unfairly played ‘game’” to sideline and intimidate him He then fled Baghdad and repaired to a monastery in Iraqi Kurdistan. The US State Department issued a statement condemning the harassment of the Cardinal, after which the US Ambassador was summoned to Baghdad for discussion.
The Babylon Movement is part of a group of militias in Iraq known as the “popular mobilization movement” or PMU. These militias were initially formed to fight ISIS and are dominated by Shi’a groups under the influence of Iran. The State Department had previously sanctioned Mr. Kildani for human rights abuses and Cardinal Sako has been trying to prevent the militia’s takeover of the province of Nineveh. Sako has openly accused Kildani of trying to gain control of Church assets and properties and of misappropriating government funds meant for the Chaldean Catholic minority.
“It is unfortunate,” Cardinal Sako wrote, “that we in Iraq live in a wide network of self-interest, narrow factionalism and hypocrisy that has produced an unprecedented political, national, and moral chaos.”
Though nominally a Christian militia, the Babylon Movement is made up mainly of fighters from Baghdad’s Sadr City, a Shi’a dominated area, and taking a page from Lebanon’s Hezbollah,the movement now presents itself as a political party which has now won four out of five seats earmarked for the Christian minority. The heads of the Christian churches united to issue a statement distancing themselves from Kildani and his movement on July 4.
“Nothing like this has happened for centuries,” said MECHRIC member, Tom Harb. “It is clear that Mr. Kildani of the Babylon Movement has orchestrated a campaign of attacks and harassment against Cardinal Sako and that the Iraqi government has enabled this by removing recognition of his traditional legal status as head of the Chaldean Church. This action has left him no legal recourse to fight the wholesale theft of Church property by the government.”
“Now that the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church has fled to Erbil under pressure from Iran-backed militias,” said foreign policy expert Dr. Walid Phares, “Cardinal Sako should be called to testify before Congress, the United Nations and the European Parliament as to the conditions for Christians and other minorities in Iraq as Iran slowly tightens its grip on the country. The US Congress has voted in legislation recognizing the vulnerability of religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and has called for their special protection several times. The Chaldean Church is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world and deserves special protection from the world community. There should be international calls to reinstate the Patriarch to his traditional role in Baghdad. It is my understanding that the Pope will soon take a stand on behalf of his Cardinal, and it is hoped many more world leaders will come forward.”
“Just as Hezbollah controls Christian representation in Lebanon, so too are certain Christians allied with the PMU being elevated in Iraq, and the Christians who stand in their way are being forced out,” added MECHRIC member John Hajjar. “The action of the Iraqi Government is not only an affront to Cardinal Sako but to the entire Christian community of Iraq and, indeed, the Middle East. It further marginalizes Christian presence in their ancestral lands. Cardinal Soko deserves the support of the international community. The United Nations needs to put pressure on the Iraqi President to reinstate Sako as the Chaldean Patriarch in Baghdad and to provide him and church property protection. Otherwise, the Christian population of Iraq will continue to decline.”The population of Iraq Christians has already dwindled down to approximately two-hundred and fifty thousand from one and a half million just twenty years ago. In other words, over the last twenty years, four out of every five Iraqi Christians have fled the country. MECHRIC, sadly, does not see that trend changing. Christianity may well become extinct in Iraq over the next few years if something is not done to prevent it.

US Military: Russian Fighter Jet Fires Flares at US Drone over Syria Causing Damage
Asharq Al AwsatJuly /25 /2023
A Russian fighter jet flew within a few meters of a US drone over Syria and fired flares at it, striking the American aircraft and damaging it, the US military said Tuesday, the latest in a string of aggressive intercepts by Russia in the region.
A senior Air Force commander said the move on Sunday was an attempt by the Russians to knock the MQ-9 Reaper drone out of the sky and came just a week after a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a US surveillance aircraft carrying a crew in the region, jeopardizing the lives of the four Americans on board. “One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller,” Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, said in a statement describing the latest close call. "We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behavior.” Grynkewich said one of the crew members operating the drone remotely kept it in the air and flew it back to its home base. The Sunday incident is the latest in a series of encounters between Russian fighter jets and US aircraft flying over Syria. In all but the one instance a week ago, the US aircraft were MQ-9 drones without crew members. On that Sunday, however, the Russian Su-35 jet few close to a US MC-12 surveillance aircraft with a crew, forcing it to go through the turbulent wake. US officials at the time called it a significant escalation in the ongoing string of encounters between US and Russian aircraft that could have resulted in an accident or loss of life. They said the Russian move hampered the crew members' ability to safely operate their plane. In recent weeks, US officials said, Russian fighter jets have repeatedly harassed US MQ-9 drones, which are conducting anti-ISIS group missions, largely in western Syria. On multiple occasions in the past three weeks, the officials said, Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to the US Reapers, setting off flares and forcing the drones to take evasive maneuvers. US and Russian military officers communicate frequently over a deconfliction phone line during the encounters, protesting the other side’s actions. There are about 900 US forces in Syria, and others move in and out to conduct missions targeting ISIS group militants.

Six found guilty of murder at Brussels 2016 attack trial
AFP/July 25, 2023
BRUSSELS: A Brussels court on Tuesday convicted French citizen Salah Abdeslam and Belgian-Moroccan Mohamed Abrini for 2016 terrorist bombings in the Belgian capital that killed 32 people, after the country’s largest-ever criminal trial. The high-profile pair — already sentenced to life in jail by France for a 2015 massacre in Paris — were among six accused found guilty of “murder linked to terrorism” over the biggest peacetime attack in Belgium. The suicide attacks on March 22, 2016 at Brussels’ main airport and on the metro system were claimed by the Daesh group. Hundreds of travelers and transport staff were maimed and seven years on many victims, relatives and rescuers remain traumatized.
The murder convictions leave those found guilty facing a life sentence in Belgium. Sentencing is expected after the summer recess ends in September. Abdeslam, 33, was the sole surviving perpetrator of the 2015 Paris attack that killed 130 people. Prosecutors told the court they believed the Belgium-based cell also carried out the November 13, 2015 rampage in the French capital. Abdeslam had fled to Brussels after taking part in the Paris attacks and holed up for four months in an apartment hosting members of the local cell. He was arrested several days before the Brussels attacks took place.
But the jury — which spent over two weeks deliberating — rejected his claim not to have been involved in planning the violence. Abrini was found guilty of being one of the teams of suicide bombers who targeted Brussels’ airport and a metro station. He testified that he decided at the last-minute not to blow himself up at the airport — as did another defendant, Osama Krayem, a Swede of Syrian descent. Krayem was also found guilty of murder, along with defendants Ali El Haddad Asufi and Bilal El Makhoukhi. Suspect Osama Atar, who is believed to have been killed in an air strike in Syria, was convicted in absentia of masterminding the attacks. Two other defendants — Tunisian Sofien Ayari and Rwandan Herve Bayingana Muhirwa — were acquitted of murder but found guilty of participating in a terrorist group. Brothers Smail and Ibrahim Farisi were acquitted of the charges they faced. The trial, which started at the end of last year, was held under tight security at the converted former headquarters of the NATO military alliance. Dozens of wounded survivors and bereaved relatives gave often emotional testimony during the months of hearings. On the morning of 22 March 2016, two men blew themselves up at Brussels-Zaventem international airport, and a third an hour later in a metro train near the seat of the European Union. The bombings — near the headquarters of both NATO and the EU — were part of a wave of attacks claimed by the Daesh group in Europe. The court on Tuesday formally boosted the death toll from the attacks from 32 to 35, after finding a link between the trauma suffered and the deaths of three more people subsequently. One of those included a 23-year-old woman, present at the airport, who decided to end her life through euthanasia due to the mental suffering inflicted.

Sudan’s FFC in Cairo to Discuss a ‘Political Vision’ to End War
Asharq Al Awsat/25 July 2023
Sudan’s Forces of Freedom and Change (FFC) on Monday commenced a series of meetings that will extend until Tuesday in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. The primary objective of these meetings is to formulate a political vision for halting the current conflict in Sudan between the military forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Meanwhile, the country’s Deputy Chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council Malik Agar continued his consultative meetings with various Sudanese political and non-partisan figures in Cairo to develop a shared vision. According to participants of FFC meetings, the number of attending party and political leaders has reached 45 individuals. Many of them arrived in Cairo over the past two days specifically to take part in these discussions. Among the prominent attendees are Yasser Arman, a leader within the FFC and its official spokesperson, Sudanese Congress Party President Omar Al-Dagir, Khalid Omar Yousif, the party’s deputy, and Babiker Faisal, the Executive Office of the Unionist Alliance. During the opening session, Al-Dagir stated: “Prolonging the war’s duration may lead to the risk of it escalating into a civil war, which would open the door to foreign interventions.”He further added that the FFC have been committed since day one to “halting the war,” in contrast to the stance of the remnants of the ousted regime who beat the drums of this war in their quest to return to power from which the Sudanese people removed them during the December 2018 revolution. Al-Dagir emphasized that the FFC extended their hands to all democratic forces and components to work towards ending the war and mobilizing international and humanitarian efforts to bring about reforms in the country. According to well-informed Sudanese sources who spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat, an arranged meeting between Agar and Arman is expected to take place in the coming hours. Arman arrived in Cairo recently, coming from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, and was unable to attend the first meeting with the FFC leadership. Following the FFC meetings, a press conference is anticipated to be held on Wednesday to announce the outcomes of the discussions.

Iran Declares Arrest of ‘Terrorist Network’ Linked to Israel
Asharq Al Awsat/25 July 2023
Iran’s Intelligence Ministry announced on Monday that it has arrested a “broad Zionist terrorist network” possessing 43 bombs, intending to carry out attacks on religious ceremonies in five provinces, according to state media. Government-run agency Mehr cited a statement from the Intelligence Ministry, reporting the arrests of members of a “Zionist terrorist organization” in the provinces of Tehran, Kerman, Isfahan, Kurdistan, and Mazandaran. The announcement of these arrests comes as Iranian authorities take strict security measures in anticipation of the first anniversary of the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, in September of 2022, which led to widespread anti-government protests. Tehran blamed Western countries for the unrest. The five provinces mentioned by the Iranian Intelligence Ministry were significant hotspots for the protests. The statement claimed that “members of this network are linked to the intelligence apparatus of the Zionist entity through terrorist centers present in Denmark and the Netherlands.” Israel was accused of providing financial and logistical assistance to the network, which was “planning to carry out several terrorist operations in the mentioned provinces,” including an explosion at a cemetery where Qasem Soleimani, the former head of foreign operations in the Revolutionary Guard, was buried after being killed in a US airstrike near Baghdad International Airport at the beginning of 2020. The Iranian intelligence statement also referred to other plans, such as targeting public gatherings, fuel stations, and the detonation of power towers and gas stations “with the aim of disrupting internal needs and exports.” Without providing evidence, the Iranian statement claimed that the security forces had seized 43 highly destructive bombs equipped with remote control systems, including 20 handheld bombs. The Iranian statement also pointed to a long list of seized items, including “explosive metal materials, detonators, various types of industrial chemicals, electronic components, remote control devices, detonation fuses, handguns, shotguns, bladed weapons, and tools used in rioting.”

Israel Braces For Unrest Over Divisive Judicial Reform
Asharq Al Awsat/25 July 2023
Israel braced for fresh strikes and protests Tuesday following a divisive parliamentary vote on a controversial judicial reform which has split the nation and drawn criticism from allies abroad. The decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government to push through a key plank of its reforms on Monday has already sparked legal challenges and clashes on the streets. Opponents were set to keep up months of protests on Tuesday, with doctors walking out, AFP reported. "The hand, extended for dialogue, was left hanging in the air, as victory celebrations took place symbolizing above all a war that only has losers," the head of the Israel Medical Association, Zion Hagay, said in a statement announcing the walkout. The move came after the Histadrut trade union confederation threatened a repeat of the general strike it called in March over the reforms. The Israel Bar Association was among numerous groups to file petitions to the Supreme Court aiming to strike down the new legislation. "A black day for Israeli democracy," read the blackened front pages of three of the country's top newspapers on Tuesday, carrying an advert by opponents of the judicial reforms.
Protesters remained on the streets late into the night following the vote, with student Josh Hakim saying he was "really, really sad about what's happening to this country". "You see what is happening on the streets, everyone is so angry," he told AFP at a rally near parliament in Jerusalem. Some 58 people were arrested at demonstrations, the police said, among them protesters in Tel Aviv, which has become the focal point of one of the country's largest ever protest movements. Police said one person was arrested for allegedly harming demonstrators, with protest organisers saying he drove a car into people blocking a highway. Officers used water cannon to disperse protesters on a major road through Tel Aviv, where the crowd waved Israeli flags. Netanyahu failed to appease opponents with a televised address late Monday, in which he pledged to hold talks during the upcoming parliamentary recess. "Reach a comprehensive agreement on everything and we will add more time should it be needed," he said. The embattled premier showed signs of fatigue in the chamber, as he sat between his defense and justice ministers just a day after unscheduled surgery to fit a pacemaker. Netanyahu defended the new law, which limits the powers of the Supreme Court in striking down government decisions, as a "necessary democratic step". Deep divisions within his own coalition and mass protests prompted the premier to temporarily halt the legislative process in March, but within weeks politicians were blaming each other for the breakdown in negotiations. On Monday, the opposition walked out of the chamber to boycott the vote, which passed with 64 votes in the 120-seat chamber. Opposition chief Yair Lapid slammed Netanyahu's "unprecedented performance of weakness".

Israeli Troops Kill Three Palestinian Militants in W. Bank, Minister Says
Asharq Al-Awsat/25 July 2023
Israeli troops killed three Palestinian militants who opened fire on them from a car near the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Tuesday, Israel's defense minister and army said. The Palestinian health ministry confirmed that three people had been killed in the incident. Palestine TV showed footage of a military vehicle blocking access to the area of the incident, including to an ambulance, as soldiers appeared to carry out an inspection. Congratulating the army on Twitter, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the incident had taken place at Mount Gerizim, a Samaritan community overlooking Nablus. Violence in the West Bank has surged for over a year, with increased Israeli raids, Palestinian street attacks and settler rampages in Palestinian villages. Nablus and the nearby northern West Bank city of Jenin have seen especially intense clashes.

UK foreign minister kicks off Middle East tour
Arab News/July 25, 2023
AMMAN: UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly began a three-day tour to the Middle East on Tuesday to boost ties with the region, Jordan News Agency reported. The trip — to Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan — comes after the UK government announced that citizens of Gulf countries and Jordan will benefit from a new electronic travel authorization visa scheme. The scheme will make visiting the UK more affordable and accessible for Gulf and Jordanian travelers. All three countries are also significant energy, defense, and security partners for the UK, and trade and investment with the Gulf are critical to supporting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ambitions for economic growth, according to a statement from the British Embassy in Amman. The statement added that UK trade with Qatar and Kuwait was worth £18.1 billion ($23.2 billion) in 2022. Cleverly will meet his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi in Amman on Tuesday and will announce up to £1.5 million in funding to support Jordan’s projects for women and girls. Safadi will also meet UNHCR and World Food Programme representatives, where he will announce £30 million in financing over three years to provide cash aid and support to Jordan’s poorest refugees. This would provide basic food and living necessities to an about 70,000 refugees in camps and host communities each year. “The UK’s mutually beneficial relationships with the Gulf and Jordan continue to thrive,” said Cleverly. The foreign minister expressed pride in UK-Jordanian collaboration on common goals, such as strengthening commercial ties and security “for the benefit of us all. “The UK also remains committed to supporting refugees and host communities, collaborating with our partners to help the most vulnerable in the region,” he added. Cleverly will also meet Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Tuesday in Doha and later head to Kuwait to meet Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Nature’s fury: Algeria battles raging wildfires that have killed 34
AFP/July 25, 2023
ALGIERS: Algerian firefighters were on Tuesday battling blazes that have killed 34 people across the tinder-dry north, destroyed homes and coastal resorts and turned vast forest areas into blackened wastelands. Witnesses described fleeing walls of flames that raged “like a blowtorch” as TV footage showed charred cars, burnt-out shops and smoldering fields and scrubland. Severe fires have raged through the mountain forests of the Kabylia region on the Mediterranean coast, fanned by winds amid blistering summer heat that peaked at 48 degrees Celsius on Monday. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune sent his condolences to the families of those killed — among them 10 soldiers trapped by flames at Beni Ksila, in Bejaia province, according to the Defense Ministry. “I have nowhere to go now — my house and that of my son have been completely destroyed by flames,” said a tearful elderly woman who lost her daughter-in-law and granddaughter, speaking on TV from Ait Oussalah. Authorities reported progress in fighting back the almost 100 fires reported in recent days, having mobilized more than 8,000 civil defense personnel, over 500 fire trucks and multiple chartered aircraft. Out of 97 fires, most had been brought under control but 13 were ongoing by Tuesday afternoon, the Interior Ministry said as temperatures dropped somewhat and winds eased. The public prosecutor of Bejaia ordered an investigation into the causes of the fires and possible perpetrators. An unknown number of people suffered injuries from burns to smoke inhalation, and more then 1,500 were evacuated as the fires hit 15 provinces, especially Bejaia, Bouira and Jijel. Serious fires have also raged in recent days in neighboring Tunisia, especially the northwestern Tabarka region. Reporters there witnessed significant damage and saw helicopters and Canadair water bombers in action.

EU to toughen its stance on Sudan war with sanctions framework — sources
Reuters/July 25, 2023
BRUSSELS: The European Union is setting up a dedicated sanctions framework for Sudan to eventually target key actors in the ongoing war with travel bans and asset and bank account freezes, diplomatic sources familiar with the matter said. A proposal document was shared between member states late last week and the details will be discussed over the following weeks, diplomatic sources said. The aim is to finish the framework by September, after which it could be used to compile a list of banned individuals and companies, the sources said. US President Joe Biden signed an executive order in early May laying groundwork for potential US sanctions. The EU has already sanctioned entities and individuals linked to Russia’s Wagner Group of mercenaries, led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, including its operations in Sudan and two gold companies. “Setting up the regime should serve as a deterrent to Sudanese warlords. It’s a last warning,” one of the sources said, adding that the framework would stick to individual targets rather than any sectoral moves. War broke out in April this year between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, who ousted longtime autocrat Omar Al-Bashir in 2019, and a paramilitary force led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. Hemedti derived his wealth from gold mines in Darfur. Burhan’s army is supported by Islamist Bashir loyalists. The UN’s special representative to Sudan, Volker Perthes, warned in July that the conflict showed no signs of a quick resolution and “risked morphing into an ethnicized civil war.” Diplomatic mediation efforts has so far failed and cease-fires have been used by both sides to regroup. Earlier this month, the International Organization for Migration estimated 3 million people had been displaced by the fighting and more than 700,000 had fled to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Chad. A humanitarian crisis is meanwhile unfolding as aid fails to be disbursed or reach its destinations.

16 killed as homes hit in Sudan strikes
AFP/July 25, 2023
WAD MADANI, Sudan: Airstrikes and artillery barrages from Sudan’s warring generals killed at least 16 people in a Khartoum neighborhood on Tuesday, a neighborhood group reported. After more than 100 days of war, the latest bombardments added to a toll of at least 3,900 killed nationwide.
“Sixteen citizens died today in this senseless war” when shells hit civilian homes in the Ombada area of Khartoum’s northwest, the neighborhood group said. It is one of many pro-democracy “resistance committees” that have cobbled together supplies over the patchy Internet, land lines, or by risking their own lives to venture out since the war began. The total number of casualties from the latest strikes was still unclear, the committee added. Mohamed Mansour, a local resident, said he “helped pull eight bodies” from the rubble of homes destroyed by the blasts. “Four people were killed in the house next door, including two children,” said another resident, Hagar Youssef. The war that began on April 15 between army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commander of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has uprooted more than 3.3 million other people from their homes. Much of the fighting has taken place in densely populated neighborhoods of the capital Khartoum, where residents on Tuesday reported a renewed RSF attack on the army’s ammunition corps in the city’s south. Pro-democracy lawyers said that civilians in the city’s south and center were again being “forcibly evacuated from their homes, to be used by fighters” as bases. Mediators from the US and Saudi Arabia have previously accused the RSF of “occupation of civilian homes, private businesses, and public buildings.” For more than three months, millions have been rationing water and electricity in the stifling heat, shielding their families from blasts and unable to reach the few health care facilities still functioning. The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday of the “catastrophic humanitarian crisis” facing Sudan, “with more than 67 percent of the country’s hospitals out of service.”Health care and aid facilities have themselves frequently come under attack or been looted by both forces. Fighters have also been accused of rampant sexual violence, reports which the WHO said it was “appalled by.”Alleged sexual and gender based crimes are a focus of a new investigation announced earlier this month by the International Criminal Court into alleged war crimes in Sudan. The WHO reiterated demands for an urgent response to help prevent outbreaks of disease during the rainy season, which began in June and brought increased reports of malaria, cholera and other water-borne diseases — particularly in remote areas.
“Outbreaks are likely to claim more lives unless urgent action is taken to halt their spread,” said Ahmed Al-Mandhari and Matshidiso Moeti, WHO regional directors for the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa, respectively. On Monday, the UN children’s agency said it had documented “2,500 severe violations of children’s rights — an average of at least one an hour” since the fighting began, with at least 435 children killed and 2,025 injured. More than half of Sudan’s 48 million people are in need of aid and protection, the UN says, but only a fraction of those have received assistance because of the security challenges, bureaucratic hurdles and other obstacles cited by aid groups. The UN’s World Food Programme said it has reached more than 1.4 million people with emergency food aid as needs intensify. The Forces for Freedom and Change, Sudan’s main civilian bloc, attended a two-day civilian meeting, which began Monday in Cairo and sought to “restore the path of peace and stop the war in Sudan,” according to FFC spokesman Jaafar Hassan.

US says Russian plane hit one of its drones with flare over Syria
AP/July 25, 2023
WASHINGTON: A Russian fighter jet flew within a few meters of a US drone over Syria and fired flares at it, striking the American aircraft and damaging it, the US military said Tuesday. A senior Air Force commander said the move on Sunday was an attempt by the Russians to knock the MQ-9 Reaper drone out of the sky and came just a week after a Russian fighter jet flew dangerously close to a US surveillance aircraft carrying a crew in the region, jeopardizing the lives of the four American crew members. “One of the Russian flares struck the US MQ-9, severely damaging its propeller,” Lt. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, the head of US Air Forces Central, said in a statement describing the latest close call. “We call upon the Russian forces in Syria to put an immediate end to this reckless, unprovoked, and unprofessional behavior.” Grynkewich said one of the crew members operating the drone remotely kept it in the air and flew it back to its home base. The Sunday incident is the latest in a series of encounters between Russian fighter jets and US aircraft flying over Syria. In all but the one instance a week ago, the US aircraft were MQ-9 drones without crew members. On that Sunday, however, the Russian Su-35 jet few close to a US MC-12 surveillance aircraft with a crew, forcing it to go through the turbulent wake. US officials at the time called it a significant escalation in the ongoing string of encounters between US and Russian aircraft that could have resulted in an accident or loss of life. They said the Russian move hampered the crew members’ ability to safely operate their plane. In recent weeks, US officials said, Russian fighter jets have repeatedly harassed US MQ-9 drones, which are conducting anti-Daesh group missions, largely in western Syria. On multiple occasions in the past three weeks, the officials said, Russian fighter jets flew dangerously close to the US Reapers, setting off flares and forcing the drones to take evasive maneuvers. US and Russian military officers communicate frequently over a deconfliction phone line during the encounters, protesting the other side’s actions. There are about 900 US forces in Syria, and others move in and out to conduct missions targeting Daesh group militants.

Anger grows in Ukraine's Odesa after Russian bombardment
Associated Press/July 25, 2023
Tetiana Khlapova's hand trembled as she recorded the wreckage of Odesa's devastated Transfiguration Cathedral on her cellphone and cursed Russia, her native land. Khlapova was raised in Ukraine and had always dreamed of living in the seaside city. But not as the war refugee that she has become.
In only a week, Russia has fired dozens of missiles and drones at the Odesa region. None struck quite as deeply as the one that destroyed the cathedral, which stands at the heart of the city's romantic, notorious past and its deep roots in both Ukrainian and Russian culture. "I am a refugee from Kharkiv. I endured that hell and came to sunny Odesa, the pearl, the heart of our Ukraine," said Khlapova, who has lived in the country for 40 of her 50 years. Her neck still has a shrapnel scar from the third day of the war, when her apartment was hit. On Day 4, she fled to Odesa. Now, she's making a quick trip back to her place in Kharkiv to grab winter clothes so she can wait out the war in Ireland, "because here we are not protected for a single second, in any city." "At any moment, you can just be hit and your whole body will be torn apart," she said. "After the war ends — and I believe that Ukraine will defeat this filth, these vampires — I will come back home. I will return, no matter what."Ever since Ukraine gained independence from Moscow in 1991, Odesa viewed itself differently than the country's other major cities because of its long, conflicted history and an outlook that stretched far beyond its borders.
Odesa's past is intertwined with some of Russia's most revered figures, including Catherine the Great, author Leo Tolstoy and poet Anna Akhmatova. Its ports were key to last year's international agreement that let Ukraine and Russia ship their grain to the rest of the world. Its Orthodox cathedral belongs to Moscow's patriarchate. Its residents largely speak Russian. And -– at least until the Kremlin illegally annexed the nearby Crimean Peninsula in 2014 -– its beaches were beloved by Russian tourists. In the war's early weeks, rumors seeded by Kremlin propaganda flew around the city: Moscow would never hit the historic center, the mayor had loaded a boat filled with roses to greet Russian soldiers, a silent majority of residents were waiting for a Russian "liberation."
They were false.
"To this day, if you read and monitor Russian channels, all of them are absolutely convinced that we are waiting for them here," said Hanna Shelest, a political and security researcher raised in Odesa whose father is a harbormaster. Odesa's regional infrastructure was hit repeatedly by Russia over the winter, unlike its port, which was key to the Black Sea Grain Initiative that allowed agricultural products to be shipped safely from both countries to feed people around the world. The region's silos were full when Russia pulled out of the agreement in mid-July. Missiles and drones struck the next day, taking aim at storage sites, transportation infrastructure and random buildings. Ukraine's air defenses deflected most of the hits, but every day a handful made it through. Last week's attacks marked the first time Odesa's historic city center was hit since the war started. Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov was unequivocal in a furious video message directed to Russians after Sunday's strike on the cathedral, showing rescue workers carefully removing a damaged icon from the ruins. "If you only knew how much Odesa hates you. Not only hates you. Despises you. You're fighting small children, the Orthodox church. Your rockets even fall on cemeteries," he said. "You must hardly know us Odessans. You will not break us, just make us angrier."Another missile crashed into the House of Scientists, a mansion that once belonged to the Tolstoy family and was transformed into an institution to unite scholars and researchers. A third hit administrative and apartment buildings. The targets were within 200 meters (yards) of the port. Shelest believes the cathedral was hit by accident, but that's little consolation amid the destruction.
Since Catherine the Great transformed Odesa into an international seaport in 1794, the city's identity has as its foundations the sea, cosmopolitan tolerance and an innate sense of humor. It had one of Europe's largest concentrations of Jews, who before a series of pogroms made up about a quarter of the population, and large communities of Greek and Italian sailors whose descendants remain to this day. A week of attacks shook those foundations for Iryna Grets, who counts at least three generations of family in the city.
"Every morning, I go to the sea, to witness the sunrise. But today, I didn't have the strength to go to the sea because we didn't sleep all night. You see, we haven't been sleeping all week," said Grets, who decided instead to visit each site bombarded on Sunday.
She started at the cathedral, at the center of life in Odesa. The original structure was destroyed under Josef Stalin in 1936 as part of his campaign against religion. When Ukraine gained independence, residents took up a fund to restore it to its original condition. In 2010, the new building was consecrated by Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. Kirill, whose church has aligned itself with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has since repeatedly justified the war in Ukraine. "Each rocket that today arrives on the territory of Ukraine is perceived by its inhabitants as your 'blessing' on their children," Archbishop Viktor Bykov, the vicar of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church's Odesa Diocese, wrote in an open letter to Kirill. The bitter pilgrimage by Grets had less to do with religion than with mourning, and many others made the same trip on Sunday. Some attended a service outside the damaged cathedral. Even more came to clear debris, instead of enjoying the famed beaches despite the beckoning summer sun."This is my city, it's a part of me, it's my soul, it's my heart," Grets said. Then, fury overcoming her, she abruptly switched to Ukrainian: "Odesa will never be part of Russia."

Kyiv says drones downed after Russia warns of retaliation over Moscow strike
Agence France Presse/July 25, 2023
Russia launched a nighttime drone attack on Kyiv, local authorities said on Tuesday, adding all incoming drones had been shot down and early information indicated no damage or casualties. The reported attack comes a day after Russia warned of "tough retaliatory measures" after a drone attack on Moscow, some 500 kilometres (300 miles) from Ukraine. Russia "attacked Kyiv with strike UAVs," Sergiy Popko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, said on Telegram, without specifying how many or where they had been launched from. "The air alert lasted for 3 hours... All air targets were detected and destroyed on the approach to Kyiv," it said. "According to the information at this moment, there were no victims or destruction in the capital." The Kyiv regional military administration had earlier issued an alert for drone attacks and warned residents to stay in shelters. The air force also issued an alert for drone strikes on the southern Odesa and Mykolayiv regions, which share part of Ukraine's Black Sea coast. The regions are home to port infrastructure that Moscow has battered regularly with attack drones and missiles since exiting a deal facilitating the safe shipment of grain from Ukraine last week.

Moldova to summon Russian ambassador over report on surveillance
Reuters/July 25, 2023
CHISINAU: Moldova’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday it would summon Russian ambassador Oleg Vasnetsov for an explanation of media reports that equipment has been installed on the Russian embassy’s rooftop that could be used for spying. The Insider media outlet and television channel Jurnal TV said 28 satellite dishes, masts, and transmitting and receiving devices had been installed on the embassy and a neighboring residential building used by diplomats and technical personnel. They said in a joint report that people associated with Russian intelligence had been seen on the buildings. “We consider espionage or foreign interference in the internal affairs of Moldova to be absolutely unacceptable, which represents a direct challenge to the sovereignty and national security of the Moldovan state,” the ministry said. The embassy and Moscow did not immediately comment on the ministry statement or on the media report. Russia has denied repeated Moldovan accusations of meddling in its affairs, particularly over the breakaway region of Transdniestria, where Moscow has a contingent of peacekeepers. Tension has also mounted over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Moldova, which borders Ukraine, has criticized the invasion and Russia’s war on its neighbor. In February, Russia rejected an accusation by Moldova’s president that Moscow was plotting to destabilize the former Soviet republic. The Russian foreign ministry described such assertions as “completely unfounded and unsubstantiated.”

Kremlin accuses West of trying to sabotage its showcase Russia-Africa summit
Reuters/July 25, 2023
MOSCOW: The Kremlin on Tuesday accused the West, and in particular the United States, of trying to sabotage its showcase Russia-Africa summit later this week by pressuring African countries not to take part. The summit, which will take place in St. Petersburg on Thursday and Friday, will be attended by President Vladimir Putin who is expected to hold intensive one-on-one talks with individual African leaders focusing on everything from trade to security, arms deals, and grain supplies. The event, which is expected to see various agreements signed, follows Moscow’s first Russia-Africa summit in 2019 and is part of a concerted push for influence and business on a continent where mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group remain active despite an abortive mutiny at home last month. Forty-nine African delegations have confirmed their participation, around half of whom will be represented by their heads of state or government, Russian diplomat Alexander Polyakov was cited as saying by the state TASS news agency earlier this month. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that the West was doing its best to wreck the Russian event. “Virtually all African states have been subjected to unprecedented pressure from the US, and French embassies on the ground have not been sleeping either along with other Western missions who are also trying to do their bit to prevent this summit from taking place,” Peskov told reporters. “In essence, they do not accept the sovereign right of African states to independently determine their partners for co-operation and mutual interaction in various fields.” US President Joe Biden hosted a US-Africa leaders summit in Washington last year, seeking to bolster alliances amid growing Russian and Chinese presence on the continent. Speaking in April after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov complained the West was trying to wreck this week’s Russia-Africa summit, the US State Department said that Washington “(doesn’t) want to limit African partnerships with other countries. We want to give African countries choices.” Peskov said Russia’s event would be crucial to be able to discuss grain supplies and what he called Moscow’s responsible behavior and efforts to support world markets. Moscow announced last week that it was leaving the Black Sea grain deal which allowed Ukraine — which it and much of the West say is fighting an existential war against Russia — to safely export grain from its seaports despite what Russia calls its “special military operation” against it. Russia has spoken of the possibility of supplying cheap or free grain to Africa’s poorest nations to replace Ukrainian grain and make up for any shortfall.

Russian army says it advanced 2 km in eastern Ukraine in 24 hours
LBCI/July 25, 2023
The Russian army announced on Tuesday that it advanced two kilometers in the past 24 hours in eastern Ukraine, specifically near Lyman, which serves as a center for the railway recaptured by Ukrainian forces in October last year. The Ministry of Defense stated in a statement: “Our forces made significant progress, advancing two kilometers deep and four kilometers in length along the front line towards Lyman.”

EU Ready to Move Almost All of Ukraine’s Grain Exports via Solidarity Lanes
Reuters/25 July 2023/July 25, 2023
The European Union is ready to export almost all of Ukraine's agriculture goods via "solidarity lanes", the EU's agriculture commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said on Tuesday, after Russia pulled out of a UN-backed Black Sea grain deal this month. Solidarity lanes are rail and road transport connections through EU member states that border Ukraine. "It is not the first time Russia uses food as a weapon...the situation is similar to the beginning of the war," Wojciechowski told reporters. "We are ready to export almost everything. This is about four million tons per month of oilseeds and grains and we achieved this volume in November last year," he added. Wojciechowski said 60% of Ukraine's exports were shipped via solidarity lanes and 40% went via the Black Sea while the UN backed grain deal was in operation. The collapse of the deal is expected to take a particularly heavy toll on countries in Africa that depended on deliveries by sea. The commissioner added that the EU was looking at several initiatives from member states to come up with a joint plan to cover the additional transport costs for the export of Ukraine's agricultural goods. Wojciechowski said there was no immediate estimate for the cost of funding the transport. Expanding grain transit through the EU is sensitive for Poland and some other EU countries bordering Ukraine, where local farmers have come under pressure from increased Ukrainian imports.

IMF expresses concern over climate change’s material impact on economies
LBCI./July 25, 2023
The International Monetary Fund expressed growing concern on Tuesday about the 'material' impact of climate change on economies worldwide. The Fund also urged for more coordinated efforts to address the root causes of climate change, highlighting that extreme weather is posing significant risks to countries, particularly to developing economies already burdened with high debts.

Latest LCCC English analysis & editorials from miscellaneous sources published on July 25-26/2023
The EU-Funded Education for Jihad and Martyrdom
Bassam Tawil/Gatestone Institute./July 25, 2023
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While the Iranian-backed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups in the Gaza Strip use summer camps to train children how to become combatants and murder Jews, the Palestinian Authority, through its education system, effectively does the same thing. It poisons their hearts and minds through incendiary material in its school textbooks.
Even the European Parliament condemned the Palestinian Authority over the "hateful" content of its textbooks. The European Union, for the past two-and-a-half years, withheld assistance from the Palestinian Authority while demanding political reforms and the purging of incitement to violence from Palestinian textbooks. A resolution passed this year by the European Parliament went so far as to directly link the content of the textbooks with Palestinian terrorism... The resolution also acknowledged that there is antisemitism in the textbooks and demanded that it be removed.
The Palestinian Authority, however, has not removed from its textbooks material that promotes violence or loathing Jews.
Nevertheless, despite repeated talk by the European Union on the need to change Palestinian textbooks, it is apparently resuming unconditional financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced last year during a visit to Ramallah, the de facto capital of the Palestinians, that EU funds will be resumed "rapidly."
This sudden burst of generosity raises questions about the EU's seriousness when it talks about the need to remove the "hateful material" from the textbooks.
The announcement by the European Commission president shows that the Europeans do not honestly care if the Palestinian Authority continues to incite violence and promote Jew-hatred in its schools. In fact, by resuming unconditional financial aid to the Palestinians, the EU is signaling that it approves of the hateful material in the textbooks and actually encourages the Palestinians to continue their Jihad against Israel and Jews.
A review conducted by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education... shows that... the Palestinian Authority textbooks that glorify the use of violence for the "liberation of Palestine," a term referring to the entire territory between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea -- and constituting all of Israel. The review also found that the tests forthrightly incorporate themes of hatred, incitement and violence.
Questions in the Arabic Language exam, for instance, include a poem that praises Jerusalem's "knights" who "go to their death with a smile," and the importance of preparing for violent Jihad against Israel.
The blood of the Palestinian children who will be killed in this Jihad will be on the hands of not only the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad; it will also, to a large degree, be on the hands of those Europeans who continue to pour hundreds of millions of euros into the Palestinian Authority without demanding an end to its "pay-to-slay" jobs program that incentivizes and rewards murder; the Palestinian Authority's non-stop incitement to violence, and the runaway religious intolerance – all of which continue to flood through Palestinian universities and schools.
While Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad use summer camps to train children to become combatants and murder Jews, the Palestinian Authority, through its education system, effectively does the same thing. It poisons their hearts and minds through incendiary material in its school textbooks. Pictured: Palestinian Authority school textbooks. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
On July 20, tens of thousands of Palestinian students in the West Bank and Gaza Strip celebrated the results of the high school matriculation exam, known as the Tawjihi. Sadly, many of these students are unlikely to continue their studies in colleagues and universities. Instead, they are expected to join one of the many Palestinian terror organizations that seek the annihilation of Israel. This happens because Palestinian schoolchildren are exposed from an early age to a curriculum that incites violence, glorifies Jihad (holy war) and promotes "martyrdom."
While the Iranian-backed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror groups in the Gaza Strip use summer camps to train children how to become combatants and murder Jews, the Palestinian Authority, through its education system, effectively does the same thing. It poisons their hearts and minds through incendiary material in its school textbooks.
Even the European Parliament condemned the Palestinian Authority over the "hateful" content of its textbooks. The European Union, for the past two-and-a-half years, withheld assistance from the Palestinian Authority while demanding political reforms and the purging of incitement to violence from Palestinian textbooks. A resolution passed this year by the European Parliament went so far as to directly link the content of the textbooks with Palestinian terrorism, particularly attacks by young people. The resolution also acknowledged that there is antisemitism in the textbooks and demanded that it be removed.
The European Union, the resolution said,
"Deplores the problematic and hateful material in Palestinian school textbooks and study cards which has [sic] still not been removed; underlines that education and pupils' access to peaceful and unbiased textbooks is essential, especially in the context of the rising implication of teenagers in terrorist attacks..."
The Palestinian Authority, however, has not removed from its textbooks material that promotes either violence or loathing Jews.
Nevertheless, despite repeated talk by the European Union on the need to change Palestinian textbooks, it is apparently resuming unconditional financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced last year during a visit to Ramallah, the de facto capital of the Palestinians, that EU funds will be resumed "rapidly."
This sudden burst of generosity raises questions about the EU's seriousness when it talks about the need to remove the "hateful material" from the textbooks.
The announcement by the European Commission president shows that the Europeans do not honestly care if the Palestinian Authority continues to incite violence and promote Jew-hatred in its schools. In fact, by resuming unconditional financial aid to the Palestinians, the EU is signaling that it approves of the hateful material in the textbooks and actually encourages the Palestinians to continue their Jihad against Israel and Jews.
A review conducted by the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-se) of the latest Tawjihi matriculation tests shows that Palestinian students were examined on chapters and passages from the Palestinian Authority textbooks that glorify the use of violence for the "liberation of Palestine," a term referring to the entire territory between the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea -- and constituting all of Israel. The review also found that the tests forthrightly incorporate themes of hatred, incitement and violence.
Questions in the Arabic Language exam, for instance, include a poem that praises Jerusalem's "knights" who "go to their death with a smile," and the importance of preparing for violent Jihad against Israel.
Students are also tested on passages in the Palestinian Authority's Islamic Education textbook, that praise murder, violence and death. One question asks students to explain that Jihad is "the apex of Islam;" another questions them about a passage that describes martyrdom as a great honor. The Islamic Education exam emphasizes the importance of Jihad as "one of the gates to achieving martyrdom."
Palestinian students are also tested on material that denies Jewish history in Jerusalem, that expresses non-recognition of Israel and its right to exist, and a passage that refers to the Jewish history in Jerusalem as "baseless claims," "fairy tales," and "myths." Another exam features a map that omits Israel, instead labeling it as "Palestine." In two instances, students are examined on chapters in the textbooks that compare Jews to the Crusaders, thereby implying that the Jews are foreign invaders who will eventually be defeated.
In the geography test, Palestinian students are examined on a textbook chapter that teaches about an attempt made by two Jews to create internal strife within the Islamic community in its early days -- apparently to establish a negative perception of Jews.
A question in the history exam asks students to explain how "the United States took advantage of the 9/11 [terror attacks]" as an pretext. The students are taught that the U.S. used the 9/11 attacks to "intervene in the countries of the world in order to spread its rule and hegemony in the world." The students are also instructed to "form a fictitious court to trial [sic] the USA for its crimes in Iraq."
One of the main reasons there is no peace between Israel and the Palestinians is because Palestinian leaders have never prepared their people for peace and compromise with Israel. The word "peace" is absent from the school textbooks; instead, Palestinian children are taught, again and again, that they should prepare for Jihad against Israel -- despite the fact that Israel is the only free and democratic country in the Middle East.
The blood of the Palestinian children who will be killed in this Jihad will be on the hands of not only the leaders of the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad; it will also, to a large degree, be on the hands of those Europeans who continue to pour hundreds of millions of euros into the Palestinian Authority without demanding an end to its "pay-to-slay" jobs program that incentivizes and rewards murder; the Palestinian Authority's non-stop incitement to violence, and the runaway religious intolerance – all of which continue to flood through Palestinian universities and schools.
*Bassam Tawil is an Arab Muslim based in the Middle East.
© 2023 Gatestone Institute. All rights reserved. The articles printed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of Gatestone Institute. No part of the Gatestone website or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied or modified, without the prior written consent of Gatestone Institute.

New Players Are Shaping the Global Security Order
Raghida Dergham/July 25/ 2023
The bilateral and group summits held last week in the Arab Gulf represent a qualitative leap towards a new concept of self-security and collective security. From the bilateral summit between the Japanese Prime Minister and Saudi and Emirati leaders, and their meetings with Turkish President Erdogan, to the unprecedented collective summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders and the leaders of the five Central Asian countries, there is a palpable vigilance in the Gulf vision of security issues and how to shape them locally and regionally. This new and highly significant development is not only crucial for the GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain – but also for security relations between these countries and their traditional allies, as well as security relations with countries that have recently entered into strategic relations with the Gulf region, such as China and Russia. Equally important, the Arab Gulf countries have taken it upon themselves to deal with their concerns regarding Iran and Turkey and are actively working to solve their problems independently, without the old dependency on the United States or others.
The concept of collective security has changed after the Ukraine War and international security is no longer the fundamental pillar of international relations, especially after the globalization of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) issue and its expansion into Asia. The blocs that emerged during the bipolar US-Soviet era, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, have faded away with the demise of the two poles. The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, had initially emerged as a challenge to the United States, but its aspirations to become an alternative economic and security bloc that could lead on international security have not proven to be realistic. The "Group of Twenty" (G20), comprising the world's 20 wealthiest countries, has unravelled due to irreconcilable differences among its members regarding Russia's war in Ukraine. The Group of Seven (G7) of industrialized nations remains a cohesive bloc supportive of the NATO alliance, which includes most Western countries, and views Russia as an adversary and China as an untrustworthy competitor.
NATO, consisting of 31 member countries, has become perhaps the most important military alliance in the world, and today includes all European Union states. The Ukraine war has helped NATO reinforce its technological and strategic superiority. This is because the war, launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin, provided an opportunity for American and European military industries to battle test their weapons and military technology for further development. Some even argue that these major industries, operating alongside their governments, are the ones that worked to embroil Putin in a war they desire to advance their interests.
Regardless of the validity of this opinion or that, the Ukraine War has changed the face of the world and provided an opportunity for regional blocs to reinvent themselves or, at the very least, accelerate their practical steps towards integration within their ranks. The GCC countries are among the best examples of an emerging regional strategic vision with a multi-layered and multi-dimensional regional security concept.
The leaders of the GCC countries are not seeking a confrontation with the West or NATO. They have no interest in such animosity, nor are they inclined to ally with China or Russia in opposition to NATO's globalization and extension into an Asian NATO. On the other hand, there are no indications that NATO intends to globalize in the direction of the Gulf region, nor are the GCC countries ready to join an alliance against Russia and China.
The decision behind NATO's globalization implies deleting boundaries. This may cause great concern for China and Russia since they are unable to respond with a similar kind of globalization.
Russia, for example, cannot establish a bloc like the defunct Warsaw Pact created by the Soviet Union in response to NATO.
And while China might be capable of mounting a military response to NATO's globalization, particularly in the South China Sea, it cannot create and globalize a bloc similar to NATO's structure. This means that China cannot be pre-emptive and lead in collective security or global security. This aspect is important, and it is a matter that the GCC countries are taking into account when formulating their security paths and choices.
Some have believed that the BRICS group could counter NATO and its globalization, and several countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, expressed a desire to join the BRICS. However, the Ukrainian conflict stopped the rise of BRICS dead in its tracks, and President Putin's inability to attend the summit in person serves as an example of the consequences of this war.
The summit is scheduled to take place on August 22 in South Africa, the first to take place in person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. President Putin had hoped to attend the summit for several reasons, including the opportunity to meet in person with Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially after the NATO summit that was provocative for both of them. There are crucial projects that require face-to-face discussions between the two presidents, ranging from strategic planning to respond to NATO’s globalization to developing alternatives to Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines. Putin was unable to attend the summit to avoid embarrassing the South African President and himself due to the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
The most significant phase of the BRICS countries' political solidarity had emerged at the United Nations when these countries coordinated their positions firmly against NATO's military operations in Libya. They opposed military intervention in Libya, while Arab countries at that time decided in favor of military intervention. The five BRICS countries managed to take a unified stance opposing the Gulf states' positions on several issues, including the conflict in Syria. That was the case in the early 21st century. Now it is a different day. These countries are now closer in their policies to the Arab Gulf states, and the reasons are partially related to the visionary, economic, political, and strategic take-off of the Arab Gulf states.
The newfound Gulf’s pragmatism has liberated it from previous constraining policies and has charted a new course for addressing disagreements without abandoning core principles. An example of this can be seen in the relationship with the Turkish president. Previously, the UAE viewed him as an advocate for the Muslim Brotherhood, who pose a threat to its security. Today, there are mutual visits, handshakes, and contracts. While complete trust may still be elusive, this sense of pragmatism has fostered a necessary practical trust to resolve conflicts.
The Gulf summit with the five Central Asian countries - Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan - held in Jeddah and chaired by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, is also a testament to the Arab Gulf countries' long-term strategic thinking regarding their relationship with the world.
These former Soviet republics, known as the "stan" republics, were once under the influence of the Soviet and later Russian spheres, but given their significance, they were never far off the radar of the interests of the United States and Iran. The Jeddah summit came at an opportune time, and perhaps it was more possible to convene due to Russia's preoccupation with the Ukrainian war.
The leaders at the summit addressed all aspects of economic, political, and security cooperation to enhance stability in Central Asia, given its geopolitical and strategic importance and its vast natural resources. The summit also emphasized the importance of combating religious extremism and various forms of violence, boldly emphasizing their identity as modern and moderate Islamic states.
The geopolitical landscape in the world is undergoing almost daily changes. The Arab Gulf countries are carefully assessing their options, observing developments among major powers, and pursuing their own programs and priorities. They are fully aware of the bigger picture and are receptive to it. They are not willing to become sacrificial lambs in great power competitions but rather are reading the evolution of their alliances and challenges carefully.
China has today lost Russia as an effective partner in countering the US, presenting a new challenge that China had not anticipated before the Ukrainian war. NATO is expanding in China's backyard and China needs time to process what has happened and determine its course in light of the new situation. NATO is no longer a theoretical rival to China; it has become a concrete reality in Asia and Japan.
This marks a new reality, and ushers in a stage in which we will see the shaping of a new world order. Not long ago, there was a simpler equation between the United States and the Soviet Union. Today, it is not merely a matter of America versus China as two superpowers. Instead, it is a phase where regional players are not working to replace great powers but are rather seeking to take their rightful place in the new concept of global security.

AI regulation train has now left the station
Dr. Amal Mudallali/Arab News/July 25, 2023
The world has taken its first concerted steps toward taking the reins of artificial intelligence and developing responsible AI by managing its risks while maximizing its benefits. From Washington to the UN, last week witnessed an accelerated pace to try and catch up with AI and hope that, one day, regulation will be ahead of the technology, although that is doubtful considering the lightning speed of the progress of AI.
The biggest news came from the White House, where President Joe Biden met with the executives of seven of the technology companies that are leading the development of AI, including Google, OpenAI and Microsoft. He succeeded in securing a voluntary pledge and commitment to implement safeguards and follow guidelines that make AI “safe, secure and trustworthy.”
The president considered the speed of development of AI “an astounding revelation,” adding: “We will see more technology change in the next 10 years, or even in the next few years, than we’ve seen in the last 50 years.” The commitments made by the AI companies, the president said, “are a promising step, but we have a lot more work to do together.”
Not everyone was impressed by the commitments and critics said these companies should not be at the center of the conversation on regulating AI because they have a profit motive. Others saw in prioritizing these companies a discrimination against the smaller firms that are working on AI.
Regardless of the criticisms, what the administration has secured is considered historic in reining in the AI companies.
The White House emphasized the responsibility of the AI companies “to ensure their products are safe,” and it announced that they “have chosen to undertake these commitments immediately.”
But what did the AI companies commit to? The White House said they committed to three principles: safety, security and trust. Safety means that they will “ensure products are safe before introducing them to the public;” security is achieved through performing security tests partly by independent experts and by building systems that put security first; and, in so doing, they earn the public’s trust.
The president outlined the steps that his administration has taken to make AI safe. These include last October’s issuing of a “first of its kind” AI bill of rights, detailing the administration’s guidelines for AI systems. In February, the president also signed an executive order to “direct agencies to protect the public from algorithms that discriminate.” The order included new equity obligations for AI systems developed and used by federal agencies. And, in May, the administration “unveiled a new strategy to establish seven new AI research institutions to help drive breakthroughs in responsible AI innovations.”
During a UN Security Council meeting last week, the US representative also encouraged member states to endorse a “proposed Political Declaration on Responsible Military Use of AI and Autonomy.” It deals with the principles of using AI in the military domain and stresses that the military use of AI capabilities must be accountable to a human chain of command. The dangers of using AI in the military domain without human control is what keeps those who are working on regulating AI awake at night.
Regardless of the criticisms, what the US has secured is considered historic in reining in the AI companies.
The president vowed to continue, in the weeks ahead, to “take executive action to help America lead the way toward responsible innovation.” But the White House knows that commitments, if not codified in legislation, will not be enough to regulate AI and the next step has to focus on Congress.
While the White House and the Democratic leadership in Congress say they are prioritizing legislation to regulate AI on a bipartisan basis, it is not yet clear whether they will be successful in a politically divided Congress.
The good news is that the administration is treating AI as a global issue that calls for global collaboration to rein it in. The White House expressed a willingness to “work with allies and partners to establish a strong framework to govern the development and use of AI.” The White House released a list of 21 countries that the administration consulted with regarding the voluntary commitments.
The Biden administration said it wants to make sure that these commitments “support and complement” other processes underway for AI governance, like Japan’s leadership of the G7's Hiroshima AI Process, India’s work as chair of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence and the UK’s autumn summit on AI safety, which British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced during the UNSC meeting on the issue last week.
At the UN’s first Security Council meeting on AI, the concern among member states was about the impact of AI on peace and security. They called for a governance framework that is ethical and responsible. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the council that the organization is the “ideal place” to adopt global standards and approaches to AI.
He welcomed calls by some member states “for the creation of a new United Nations entity” for collective efforts to govern AI in order “to maximize the benefits of AI for good” and “to mitigate existing and potential risks,” through administering an “internationally agreed mechanism of monitoring and governance.” As a first step, Guterres said he is convening “a multistakeholder High-Level Advisory Board for Artificial Intelligence that will report back on the options for global AI governance by the end of this year.”
Tech executive Jack Clark, of AI company Anthropic, told the UNSC that big tech companies cannot be trusted when it comes to the safety of the AI system. He spoke about the importance of “robust and reliable evaluation of AI systems,” stressing that a lack of such evaluation would “run the risk of regulatory capture compromising global security and handing over the future to a narrow set of private sector actors.”
The problem, as Clark and others have pointed out, is that technology companies and not governments are the ones with the “sophisticated computers,” the data and the knowledge to build AI systems and do the evaluations.
The Chinese ambassador supported a central role for the UN in establishing principles for AI, as well as regulating its development “to prevent this technology from becoming a runaway horse.”
The AI companies’ pledge has raised important questions about how the US administration can hold these companies accountable if they do not abide by their commitments, and whether they can be trusted to regulate themselves. Jeff Zients, the White House chief of staff, told National Public Radio: “We will use every lever that we have in the federal government to enforce these commitments and standards.” The AI principles and regulations train has now left the station, but all indications point to an arduous ride for conductors and passengers alike.
• Dr. Amal Mudallali is an American policy and international relations analyst.

Pakistan-GCC partnership has new momentum
Dr. Ali Awadh Asseri/Arab News/July 25/2023
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan is nearing the end of a challenging yet fruitful tenure, marked by major policy decisions. One of his strategic moves was to deepen investment and trade ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. These leading economies of the Gulf Cooperation Council have also demonstrated a willingness to contribute to Pakistan’s economic stability and revival.
Pakistan has always prioritized economic, defense and cultural relations with the Kingdom and other Gulf nations. This historically rooted relationship is based on the common bonds of religion and culture, mutually beneficial economic needs and shared strategic interests in regional stability and global peace.
The GCC region plays a crucial role in Pakistan’s economy, serving as the primary source of energy imports and foreign remittances. It is also home to the largest number of Pakistani expatriate workers. The ongoing economic diversification and regional reconciliation in the Gulf, particularly under the Saudi Vision 2030, offer ample opportunities for Pakistan to attract GCC investments in the development sector, as well as to export skilled manpower and tradable commodities to the Gulf nations.
Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders understand the vital role GCC investments can play in putting the crisis-ridden economy on a steady course toward sustainable progress. Among the major policy initiatives to this end is the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, which is tasked with attracting foreign direct investment from GCC countries in the fields of agriculture, minerals and mining, information technology, and defense production. This important step is being complemented by the launch of the Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund and the conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE.
The current civil-military consensus on the GCC’s pivotal economic role has emerged against the backdrop of tangible progress made by the present government on the economic, political, security and foreign policy fronts.
Sharif faced significant challenges upon taking office in April last year, inheriting a country on the verge of financial default. Dealing with the subsequent political turmoil, a renewed wave of terrorism and a serious deterioration in Pakistan’s relations with major powers and trusted allies was also a daunting task. But he has been able to successfully navigate this complex landscape by engaging coalition leaders, the security establishment and key foreign partners.
As a result, Pakistan is now stable enough to transition smoothly toward a caretaker setup, which will hold the next general election. Political turmoil has receded since the appointment of Gen. Asim Munir as the chief of the army staff in November. A new staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund, worth $3 billion for a period of nine months, was concluded in June. Although terrorism has seen a resurgence, enhanced security structures are now in place to combat this threat. And the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor stands revived, while relations with the US are also back on track.
Most notably, the civil-military collaboration has expanded to the economic sphere, giving renewed momentum to Pakistan’s economic partnership with the leading GCC economies. Since 2019, Saudi Arabia, China and the UAE have offered concessional loans worth several billion dollars to shore up Pakistan’s foreign reserves. These loans have subsequently been rolled over to meet the IMF demand. The latest IMF deal became possible after Saudi Arabia deposited an additional loan of $2 billion in the State Bank of Pakistan.
The Kingdom has always stood by Pakistan through thick and thin. But Pakistan must stand on its own two feet. The Special Investment Facilitation Council offers a viable pathway in this respect. Its establishment indicates that Pakistan’s civilian and military leaders understand the risk of dependency on foreign loans. And they are preparing to lay down a solid economic base through attracting investment from friendly countries.
Thus far, Pakistan’s inability to provide a swift, one-window operation to foreign investors is the key reason for the extremely low levels of investment inflows. There are unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and regulatory requirements, which discourage investors and disrupt the initiation of new projects and the completion of existing ones. Political instability results in frequent changes of government and the consequent lack of continuity in economic policies.
These issues have plagued major investment commitments by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar in the recent past. While visiting Islamabad in 2019, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged $20 billion of investment in the energy, minerals and mining sectors. Likewise, the UAE and Qatar have committed $9 billion. But these pledges are yet to materialize due to cumbersome procedures and structural impediments.
Foreign investors need a guaranteed return on their investments. The Special Investment Facilitation Council is envisaged to offer one-window services through technocratic consultation and institutional facilitation. The inclusion of the army chief in its apex committee, and of top military officials in the executive and implementation committees, is important for guaranteeing continuity, transparency and accountability.
The Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund is also envisioned to be free from bureaucratic and regulatory hassles. For now, at least seven state assets worth 2.3 trillion rupees ($8 billion) are being transferred into this fund and are expected to expand through the sale of shares and the use of their earnings for capital investments. The government also plans to undertake joint ventures with GCC companies, while privatizing and leasing out the loss-making public sector enterprises.
Pakistan’s skilled manpower is a perfect match for the economic transformations taking place in the Gulf.
Tangible progress in this investment drive will help Pakistan to increase investment inflows from the GCC, China and other countries. But its aspiration to become a $1 trillion economy by 2035 will depend on it taking solid steps that boost the dismal level of bilateral trade, which is currently worth $3 billion annually with the Gulf states. Islamabad must also increase the number of Pakistani workers and the diversity of the jobs they do in the GCC region. They number about 4 million at present.
Going forward, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the UAE needs to be emulated in Pakistan’s trade links with Saudi Arabia and the other GCC members. Pakistan’s skilled manpower in the IT and services sectors is a perfect match for the economic transformations taking place in the Gulf, particularly Saudi Arabia.
Let me conclude by saying that Sharif has done well to raise the prospects of economic recovery in Pakistan. One hopes that its future political leadership will sustain the current momentum in economic policies, especially with respect to the rapidly evolving partnership with the GCC economies.
Dr. Ali Awadh Asseri served as Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan from 2001 to 2009 and received Pakistan’s highest civilian award, Hilal-e-Pakistan, for his services in promoting the Saudi-Pakistan relationship. He also served as the Saudi ambassador to Lebanon from 2009 to 2017. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Beirut Arab University and authored the book, “Combating Terrorism: Saudi Arabia’s Role in the War on Terror” (Oxford, 2009). He is a member of the Board of Trustees at RASANAH, the International Institute for Iranian Studies, Riyadh. The article reflects his personal views.

Europe’s wait-and-see policy on Syria will not work
Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib/Arab News/July 25/2023
The European Parliament this month issued a joint motion for a resolution on Lebanon. The statement stressed “that conditions are not met for the voluntary, dignified return of refugees in conflict-prone areas in Syria.” At the same time, the motion acknowledged that the situation in Lebanon is dire. What we can conclude from the statement is that the EU is adopting a wait-and-see attitude, with no solution on the horizon. However, this does not work because the situation is not sustainable.
The status quo in Syria is that the country is de facto divided into three areas. In the northeast, the main force is the Syrian Democratic Forces under American protection. In the northwest, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham rules under Turkish influence. And the rest of the country is with the regime, either under Iranian or Russian influence. The Ukraine war has added a layer of complication to the conflict and increased the stagnation. The West now does not want to start a conversation with Russia. And since the Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s mutiny, Western leaders are under the impression that Russia is severely weakened, ensuring they will not want to engage in a conversation such as the one on Syria, in which Moscow will be given legitimacy and importance.
Regarding Bashar Assad, although the international community has the backing of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, no one has the stamina or is willing to use their political or military capital to put it into effect. Hence, Europe abides by the resolution but does nothing to enforce it.
On Syria, the EU faces a dilemma. On the one hand, it realizes that removing Assad would be a difficult task, so it has given up on this project. On the other hand, Brussels knows that there will be no stability while Assad is in power. Assad cannot be trusted with any aid. Any funds that go into Syria will go toward solidifying the regime and its iron grip over the people — they will not be used to improve the situation for ordinary Syrians.
To solve this problem, the EU believes that maintaining the status quo is the best option. The thinking is that the refugees will stay where they are and everybody can wait and see. Russia is getting weakened, the economic situation in Syria is deteriorating and, at some point in time, Assad will have to make concessions. However, this is mainly driven by wishful thinking rather than realism.
The Europeans do not realize that the refugees’ situation is not sustainable. Turkiye is already sending refugees back to Syria. While people thought that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s promise to repatriate refugees was an election stunt, it has turned out to be a real policy. While Erdogan announced last week that 1 million refugees had “voluntarily” returned, various media accounts show that many of those returns may have been involuntary. Regardless of the dynamics behind this campaign, one thing is very clear: The refugee issue is not sustainable.
The same applies to Lebanon. It is true that the refugees are not the cause of the crisis the Lebanese are witnessing, with the disaster instead being self-inflicted. However, the aversion toward refugees has reached the point where it cannot be contained anymore. It needs to be addressed. The EU can no longer turn its back on the problem and think that it can go away. It needs to seriously think about a solution, otherwise a clash is bound to happen and that will result in a new wave of refugees reaching European shores. Europe definitely does not need that.
However, dealing with Assad or recognizing him is not a solution. If Europe accepts Assad, he will use this as bait to extort funds from the EU; funds that definitely will not go toward improving the lives of the people of Syria, but rather to consolidate his regime and to extend his influence.
So far, those who have normalized with him have got nothing in return. Captagon, the deadly drug, is still flowing to Arab states and the wider world. This means Europe needs a dose of realism in terms of dealing with the Syrian conflict. The European policy toward Syria is living on borrowed time — sooner or later, the Europeans will need to act. They need to have a real policy and not a tactic of appeasement.
The Europeans do not want to talk to the Russians because of the Ukraine war. However, the Europeans should engage with their allies, or at least those with whom they can talk effectively in order to reach a solution. They should encourage the Saudi-Iran rapprochement and push it toward an operational agreement on Syria that will allow the return of refugees, while also putting in place a mechanism to monitor and ensure their safe and dignified return.
The EU believes that maintaining the status quo is the best option. However, this is mainly driven by wishful thinking.
Also, Europe should engage with Turkiye and make sure that the Erdogan government, which includes the Nationalist Movement Party, makes a concession and accepts a reconciliation with the northeast. In this respect, Turkiye would need a perk, as it perceives that it can use coercive measures to keep the Kurds of that area under its thumb. The 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkiye pointed to visa-free entry for Turkish nationals to the Schengen area. However, this has not come about. According to the Europeans, Turkiye failed to abide by certain criteria regarding border controls and human rights. Maybe it is time for the EU to give Turkiye this incentive to convince Erdogan and his government, especially his ultranationalist allies, of the benefits of normalizing with Syria’s northeast.
However, the starting point to any practical policy the EU might adopt is an awareness that the current situation of refugees in neighboring countries is not sustainable.
*Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is president of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.